Picking the best airgun can be a challenge. With hundreds of options on the market, it can be overwhelming to know the best choice for your buying dollar. In this article, we’ll help point you in the right direction for:
Before we get started, we want to mention that finding the best pellet gun for YOU is extremely subjective. These pointers are designed to help you narrow your focus when searching for your best airgun.
Best Replica Pellet Pistol
It’s all in the name, “replica.” When looking for the best replica pellet pistol, start with a manufacturer or importer with the best track record in making exceptional, fully licensed replica guns. We say “fully licensed” because to use that term, a company has to pay the original manufacturer, i.e., Colt, S&W, or Beretta, a fee and get their permission to use their name. A firearm company like Colt does not make airguns. But Umarex works with a manufacturer to create a fully licensed version of their firearm and pays Colt for the right to put their name on it. Nobody does this better than Umarex, and they have quite a stable of licensed replica airguns.
Let’s say you have a traditional Colt 1911. There may be 20 different 1911 variants on the market. If you look at the offerings from each, you will find some are just better than others. Don’t only go by price, and that goes for either end of the spectrum. You don’t necessarily have to buy the most expensive option to get the “best” option for you. Make sure that it has the features that you are looking for like; blowback, drop-free magazines, easy loading CO2, easy loading bbs, etc. Lastly, make sure that you check out the customer reviews, as that will give you a good perspective on whether or not the company delivers on the feature set they market.
Best Fun Pellet Gun
Picking the best fun pellet gun – talk about sub-jec-tive! For argument’s sake, let’s define fun as “backyard plinking” fun on a budget. It’s hard to have fun when you can’t get pellets or ammo to shoot. It’s tough to have fun when you can’t get air or fuel to fire the pellets or BBs. So your “fun” airgun needs to be easy to “feed.” CO2 airguns are a great option as CO2 is pretty easy to get, even right down at your local big-box store. BB guns and .177 pellet guns are good fits for “fun” for the same reason. Ammo is inexpensive and easy to find.
Much of the same advice from the replica airgun section will apply here as well – it’s important to go with a known brand. Companies like Crosman or Umarex have been making fun airguns for a very long time, and they are very good at it. It just comes down to what kind of feature set checks all the boxes for you. Do you want to be able to shoot fully automatic? (Take a look at our recent article on some of our top fully automatic BB guns!) Is accuracy your “thing?” BB rifles are great for the lowest cost backyard fun. And, a product like the Umarex Fusion II delivers quiet accuracy that is very hard to beat. Before you buy, be sure to check out what other consumers say about your pick. It may help you make a better choice.
Best 10 Meter Match Pistol
This topic is less subjective because it all comes down to accuracy. While you may think this is a very narrow field, there are more options than you may expect, and the price range starts as low as about $50. Unlike other airgun groups, here you will get what you pay for. Since 10-meter matches are won and lost on hundredths of an inch, if you are going to be competitive, expect to spend some money. The top of the food chain here will be PCP-powered 10 Meter pistols. There are many brands to choose from, and once you get over the $1000 price point, they all deliver. Take a look at the adjustability of the grip and the overall ability to customize the weight and balance, as that’s what’s going to give you the edge for the most consistent accuracy.
When looking at products under the $1000 price point, things get tricky. Your best option is going to be researching what others say about your potential choice. While you will probably never compete with the $50 Beeman P17, you may find that it has enough accuracy to help you train until you can afford a true 10-meter competition pistol like the Air Arms Alfa. There are many options between the Beeman and the Air Arms Alfa, like the Marauder PCP 10 Meter Pistol and the Crosman CO2 10 Meter Pistol, so be sure to take some time and do your research.
Long-range Accurate Pellet Gun
Like our 10-meter pistol segment, long-range airguns are all about accuracy. Getting 1″ groups at 50 yards is now commonplace. When you start to stretch that out to 75 and 100 yards, things change. Some airguns can do it, and companies like Airgun Depot have competitions to prove that point. But, the costs go way up if you are looking to shoot one MOA at 100 yards. Here’s what you want to look for when picking a long-range shooter.
Consistency is key to accuracy, and the way you get consistent volume and pressure is from a good regulator. All your long-range tack drivers will have a regulator. Additionally, you’ll want to make sure that the airgun you’re considering has a match barrel and match trigger. When all these parts work together, you can see some great results at long range. One of the most popular airguns for long-range accuracy is the FX Impact. It’s highly customizable for personal fit, as well as performance. These are all keys to long-range accuracy.
Do you have more questions?
Picking the right airgun can be difficult. But we are here to help. Please feel free to call us and ask questions. We’ll do our best to make sure that we get you exactly what you need.
