Best Cheap Airsoft Guns – 2022 Complete Buyer’s Guide

| Last Updated:
August 12, 2024

Are you looking for the best cheap airsoft guns? If so, you’re in the right place. Having an airsoft gun is fun for a lot of recreational activities like paintballing or target shooting. However, you’re probably looking for something within your budget range. Yes, there are airsoft guns that are cheap.

However, it’s important to find one with the best quality. In order to help you get the best bang (no pun intended) for your buck, we’ve taken the liberty of including a list of eight cheap airsoft guns currently popular on the market. Before we get to the list, we’re going to dive in on how to choose a cheap airsoft gun of your own so you can have fun with it however you like.

Comparison of the Best Cheap Airsoft Guns

IMAGEPRODUCT
  • Fires at 260 FPS.
  • 200-round capacity magazine.
  • Best overall cheap airsoft gun.
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  • Shoots up to 325 FPS.
  • The magazine holds up to 350 pellets.
  • Runner-up for best overall cheap airsoft gun.
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  • Shoots up to 300 fps.
  • Features a fast-loading magazine.
  • Best cheap airsoft gun for the money.
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  • Spring-action loaded.
  • Best cheap airsoft sniper rifle.
  • Shoots between 400 to 480 FPS.
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  • Shoots up to 250 FPS.
  • Battery-operated rifle.
  • Best cheap electric airsoft gun.
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  • 13-round magazine.
  • Best cheap Co2 Airsoft Pistol.
  • Shooting velocity is up to 395 fps.
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  • Spring-powered pistol.
  • Best cheap airsoft revolver.
  • Barrel measured at 6 inches in length.
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How to Choose a Cheap Airsoft Gun

There are some characteristics that make an inexpensive airsoft gun stick out above the rest currently flooding the market. Granted, while they are low in price, it’s important to find one that will fit your needs and preferences. And you’ll need one that will last you a long period of time. Here’s what you need to look for:

Material

Even cheap airsoft guns are made from some durable materials. The idea here is to find something where the quality is good enough to use for longer periods of time. Some materials, like polymer and steel, might be included in your airsoft gun of choice. These are usually strong enough to take on all kinds of impact and abuse.

Which Type Do You Prefer?

This preference is entirely up to you. Should you go for a pistol or a rifle? You can choose between something that’s spring-loaded or CO2-powered. Either way, there are a few types of guns and ways to power them available. Find one that will best fulfill your personal needs and preferences and you’ll be all set for whatever your intents and purposes are.

Reliability

This is one of the most important qualities to consider, especially if you’re looking for something you can use for continuous operation. One of the most common occurrences that happens with airsoft guns is misfirings and jamming. You want an airsoft gun that will not run into any of these kinds of issues for as long as you keep firing off those pellets or other rounds of your choice.

Review of the Best Cheap Airsoft Guns

Below is a list of the eight best cheap airsoft guns currently on the list. You should take note of the characteristics and features of every single one to help you find one that will stand out as your favorite. If you have a good idea of how they work, you can get a good idea of which airsoft gun is considered your “ideal gun”.

Find one that’s “good enough” and you’ll be one happy user for as long as you own it. Now, let’s get a look at the first item on our list--the best overall cheap airsoft gun:

Best Overall:
FN Soft Air Scar

[amazon fields="B01MZFWZA7" image="1" value="thumb" image_size="large" image_align="center" image_link="none"]

Pros

  • Durable and takes on impact and abuse
  • Firepower is pretty good and is also really accurate
  • Easy to load multiple rounds at the same time
  • Best used for target shooting and recreational applications
  • Includes a charger for the battery, though it takes a little bit to fully charge it

Cons

  • Some jamming may occur
  • No replacement battery included
  • The trigger may be hard to pull back

What Recent Buyers Report

Recent buyers were impressed with the overall performance of this airsoft gun. They considered it really accurate and reliable 99% of the time. One user said he was using it for target shooting and could not think of any other airsoft gun that did better in the past.

Why it Stands Out To Us

This semi-auto airsoft rifle can handle a huge number of pellets in one magazine. Aside from the magazine volume, it also is one of the strongest airsoft guns on the market. It’s made from high-quality materials, so it’s built to take on some bumps and bangs while being used for some fun recreational use.

Who Will Use This Most

This airsoft gun will be used mostly for recreational purposes. More specifically, it’s a target shooting airsoft gun that will work to your advantage if you want to compete with your fellow shooters. Since you have a lot of pellets at your disposal, you won’t have to worry about reloading for a very long time.

What Could Be Improved and Why

What should be included is a replacement battery. Despite the fact that the battery is rechargeable, there will come a point in time when you have to replace the battery outright. It would be convenient to add a new battery to the mix so when you’re ready to change it, you already have a fresh one on hand.

Bottom Line

If you’re looking for an airsoft gun that will be considered one of the best, the Soft Air FN SCAR-L might be right up your alley. This might be a target shooter’s dream to own an airsoft gun like this. Especially when you have all kinds of rounds to fire off.

Runner-up:
Marines Airsoft SR01 Spring Powered Rifle by Crosman

[amazon fields="B005HGAZUW" image="1" value="thumb" image_size="large" image_align="center" image_link="none"]

Pros

  • Very accurate shooting
  • Iron sights are quite useful for many users
  • Easy to customize thanks to the Picatinny rail
  • It can hit targets as far away as 30 to 35 yards out
  • Folding stock is easy to fold and makes portability much more of a convenience

Cons

  • Cocking might be a little difficult
  • Some are suspect about the overall quality
  • May not be as ergonomically-friendly as expected

What Recent Buyers Report

This rifle received some high marks from new users who tried this out. They said they were satisfied with the way it shot accurately, especially at targets situated quite a distance away. One user said he was surprised to see it reach out and touch his paper target from about 30 yards away.

Why it Stands Out To Us

This is a replica of a military-style rifle made into a really cool airsoft gun. It’s durable, can shoot accurately, and can take on a good deal of bumps and bangs. It is as close as you can get to the real thing. Aside from that, you have the Picatinny rail to use if you want to add an additional scope or optic on it in order to boost the rifle’s accuracy.

Who Will Use This Most

This rifle will be an alternative favorite for those who love shooting targets. In fact, it might be a good choice for those who want a rifle that can reach a little farther. This will shine the brightest in a recreational shooting application or just a simple target shooting session.

What Could Be Improved and Why

One of the best possible ideas for improvement is to make the cocking hammer easy to use. It’s too weighty and is also susceptible to breakage after a short period of time. That’s part of the reason why the overall quality is questionable for some.

Bottom Line

If you want something that’s close to a military-style airsoft rifle, then you’ll want to get a good look at the Marines Airsoft Spring-Powered Rifle. This will allow you a good deal of firepower plus the ability to customize it to your advantage to make it stand out even more out in the field or while you’re shooting at targets.

Best for the Money: 
BBTac Airsoft Gun Package - Black Ops - Collection of Airsoft Guns

[amazon fields="B01MQS74AT" image="1" value="thumb" image_size="large" image_align="center" image_link="none"]

Pros

  • Affordable for most budgets
  • Shoots really fast and accurate
  • Excellent for beginner level users
  • Excellent for both adults and children to use
  • Great for many applications like target shooting and animal control

Cons

  • Some reliability issues may occur
  • Difficult to cock into the firing position
  • Some are not impressed with the overall quality

What Recent Buyers Report

Many users were impressed with the guns in this collection. They were quite surprised by how far and fast these puppies can shoot. One user said he was able to fire off a lot of fast follow-up shots with the rifle, something he wasn’t able to do with some of the other airsoft guns he’s owned in the past. Accurate, reliable, and very quick shooting, are what we heard multiple times from different users.

Why it Stands Out To Us

This is a collection of airsoft guns you can use at your disposal. You can really spend a lot of time using each of them or a specific one may actually stand out the best. You can use the pistol and have a friend use one and vice versa. Regardless, you get a really good performance from each gun that is unmistakable and unmatched against any of their competitors.

Who Will Use This Most

This will be mostly used by budget shoppers who want as many airsoft guns as possible at their disposal. However, this will make for a sweet-looking arsenal for those who choose this. Why pay for one airsoft gun when you can purchase six for the purpose of casual target shooting or recreational competitions?

What Could Be Improved and Why

Once again, the hammer on some of these guns needs to be easy to cock so you’re able to get the shots off more quickly, especially in the heat of friendly competition. This would definitely make the guns more durable than they currently are (not to say that they aren’t, but there is always room for improvement).

Bottom Line

If you want to quickly build up your arsenal of airsoft guns, then the BBTac Airsoft Gun Black Ops Package might be exactly what you need. With so many of these airsoft guns at your disposal, you’ll have a choice of which gun you want to use first.

Best Cheap Airsoft Sniper Rifle:
Double Eagle Field Marksman Bolt-Action Spring Airsoft Sniper Rifle

[amazon fields="B071Z8XTF5" image="1" value="thumb" image_size="large" image_align="center" image_link="none"]

Pros

  • Easy to load magazine
  • Super-durable construction
  • Fast and accurate shooting
  • Accepts most bipods for shooting
  • Easy to customize thanks to the rail

Cons

  • Safety might break easily
  • Rail may not accept most optics
  • It doesn’t come with additional screws needed for mounting an optic or scope

What Recent Buyers Report

Most recent buyers were looking for an airsoft rifle that could get them to reach out and touch something from long distance. Sure enough, this airsoft sniper rifle was something that lived up to that standard. Some users were able to hit their paper targets from as far away as an impressive 100 yards. One user said he expected it to be around 420 FPS in terms of velocity, but was shocked to find out that it goes a little farther than that.

Why it Stands Out To Us

This airsoft sniper rifle has the potential to make recreational shooting a whole lot more fun. It is the one rifle that can get the job done at distances no other airsoft rifle, pistol, or shotgun can touch. It’s durable to handle all kinds of impact and is spring-loaded and powerful enough to propel shots longer distances.

Who Will Use This Most

This is a rifle that is fit for long-range recreational shooting or casual target shooting. Make no mistake, it will hit targets from a good distance. It’s no regular sniper rifle, but will definitely go out of its way to impress even the newest of users.

What Could Be Improved and Why

This should come with two things: First, a scope that is reliable and allows for a better reach. Another would be a bipod. Adding these two would make this rifle an airsoft sniper’s dream come true rather than having to purchase them separately. After all, a lot of budget shoppers are looking for the best deal on these airsoft rifles.

Bottom Line

If you’re a fan of sniper rifles and want one that will definitely give you some accuracy and distance, the Double Eagle Field Marksman Bolt Action Spring-Loaded Airsoft Sniper Rifle will be your best friend in the recreational field or at your makeshift shooting range. Don’t be shocked if you’re able to add on a scope and reach slightly farther than most airsoft sniper rifles.

Best Cheap Electric Airsoft Gun:
 BBTac BT-M82 Airsoft Gun Fully-Automatic Electric Rifle

[amazon fields="B000ROO15Y" image="1" value="thumb" image_size="large" image_align="center" image_link="none"]

Pros

  • Fast, reliable shooting
  • Easy to load magazine
  • Excellent for multiple purposes
  • Tactical accessories are durable and reliable
  • The battery is easy to recharge and doesn’t take all day

Cons

  • No replacement battery included
  • Some complain about losing small parts to it
  • May take a longer period of time to charge after some time

What Recent Buyers Report

As expected, this airsoft rifle delivers powerful shooting right from the get-go. Some users went so far as to say that the firing power was on-par with CO2-powered airsoft guns. The accuracy and velocity were consistent and top quality. Most were able to hit their targets from various distances between 10 to 30 yards.

Why it Stands Out To Us

This airsoft gun is powered by a battery. It’s spring-loaded, sure. But it can fire with as much power as if you’re using a CO2 tank. That’s because the battery gives this rifle the additional oomph  it needs to allow pellets to go farther than most airsoft guns on the market.

Who Will Use This Most

This will be used by airsoft shooters who want a little more power in their shots, but either cannot afford a CO2-powered airsoft gun of their own. Ideally, this will be a great rifle that will give you a long time of reliable service whether you’re a target shooter or a competitive shooter.

What Could Be Improved and Why

A replacement battery should be included with this rifle. Once again, we’d like to stress that there will come a point where your batteries will no longer work. So they’ll probably need to be recycled. In any event, it might have been wise to include an additional replacement battery for when that day comes.

Bottom Line

The BBTac Fully-Automatic Electric Rifle will likely be your favorite go-to airsoft gun if you’re up for having a lot of fun with a really powerful airsoft gun. Shoot targets, or if needed, shoot at varmints and critters who are invading your property and causing a ruckus. Either way, you’re bound to find a few good uses for it.

Best Cheap Co2 Airsoft Pistol:
Colt Soft Air Special Combat 1911 CO2 Airsoft Pistol

[amazon fields="B01NAAPJ6R" image="1" value="thumb" image_size="large" image_align="center" image_link="none"]

Pros

  • Easy to load
  • Powerful firing power
  • Very accurate shooting
  • Excellent for beginner level users
  • Excellent for target shooting and competition purposes

Cons

  • Some jamming and misfirings may occur
  • Magazine ejection design is not the best

What Recent Buyers Report

As expected, this pistol delivers excellent performance. It was accurate from various distances (from about 10 to 20 yards specifically). Manypeople were using it for shooting competitions that involved paper and human targets (which the proper protection). One user said it was a lot more fun using paintball-like pellets for the purpose of the competition.

Why it Stands Out To Us

This includes a CO2 cartridge that allows for faster and more robust propulsion of each round you fire. These types of guns are best used in a paintball or competitive shooting session, especially when it involves shooting moving targets (AKA your opponents). This will also be on-par with airsoft guns powered by batteries. Both of them prove that they stand out as the most powerful types of airsoft guns on the market.

Who Will Use This Most

This will be used mostly by paintballers and airsoft competitors alike. Since you’re dealing with CO2 cartridges, you’re dealing with firepower like nothing else. These rounds travel fast and far. If those two things are what you’re looking for in an airsoft gun, make no mistake about it...this gun will definitely stand out.

What Could Be Improved and Why

One of the possible improvements that should be considered is making the adjustments necessary to prevent any kind of misfirings or jamming in the future. There should be no need for any rogue pellets to sneak out of the magazine even before the pistol is fired off.

Bottom Line

If you like pistols and are a sucker for CO2 cartridges, then the Colt Soft Air Special Combat 1911 will be the one airsoft gun you can use to your advantage. Paper targets, moving targets, it doesn’t matter. This will give you excellent firepower and reliability for as long as you use it.

Best Cheap Airsoft Revolver:
 TSD Sports 6-Inch Barrel Spring Powered Airsoft Revolver

[amazon fields="B001DHHRBO" image="1" value="thumb" image_size="large" image_align="center" image_link="none"]

Pros

  • Velocity is pretty fast
  • Hammer is easy to cock back
  • Best used as a beginner pistol
  • Shoots really well and firepower is decent
  • It provides accurate shooting from various distances

Cons

  • Some consider the quality to be a little flimsy
  • Shipping restrictions in place for New York residents
  • Some say the accuracy is not what they expected

What Recent Buyers Report

This revolver was a hit among newbie users who were looking for the best beginner pistol in the airsoft category. This six-shooter stood out among the pack. It was enjoyable to shoot, according to one user. It was best used for recreational purposes (particularly using human targets). It also had its uses as a great target shooting pistol.

Why it Stands Out To Us

This revolver is not like the other airsoft pistols. While most of them give you multiple rounds (with capacities well into the hundreds), this only allows you six shots. There's nothing wrong with that at all, especially if you’re looking for a starter pistol for young children who are old enough to properly use an airsoft gun.

Who Will Use This Most

This will be used by newbie users like young children and will give them enough rounds to work with so they can practice using an airsoft gun. Then, when they’re ready, they can deal with something with far more rounds and a lot more power. Six shots or not, this pistol is fun to use, especially if you want to pull off an impression of your favorite outlaw.

What Could Be Improved and Why

One thing that would actually go nicely with this revolver is a holster. This would be an excellent addition to make the revolver stand out. Plus, it would also make for a great prop when you want to practice your quick draw with an airsoft six-shooter.

Bottom Line

The TSD Sports Airsoft Revolver is probably the perfect gift for your child or grandchild who wants to use airsoft guns for the first time. The quality is decent and the firepower is pretty good for firing at both paper targets and even moving targets.

Best Cheap Airsoft Shotgun:
Mossberg Tactical Long Shotgun Kit

[amazon fields="B00538TI3Y" image="1" value="thumb" image_size="large" image_align="center" image_link="none"]

Pros

  • Excellent accuracy
  • Superior firepower
  • Pump-action is easy and smooth
  • Holster holds the pistol nice and secure
  • Extra bags of pellets are a welcome convenience

Cons

  • Shotgun may malfunction at times
  • Some misfiring may occur with both guns
  • Loading the pistol magazine may be a little difficult at first

What Recent Buyers Report

New users were thrilled to have not one, but two airsoft guns as part of this package deal. They tried out both guns and were satisfied with the performance of each one. The shotgun is easy to pump back and forth for loading new shots. As expected, they were able to make easily accurate shots from a wide variety of close distances. One user said he uses both for paintball combat and considers them much better than standard airsoft paintball guns.

Why it Stands Out To Us

Think about it for a moment: would you say no to the possibility of beefing up your airsoft arsenal? Of course not. Especially when you’re wanting to use them for recreational purposes that involve human targets. Granted, these don’t take BBs like most of the airsoft guns do. But they do take all kinds of paintballs. These guns are durable, reliable, and will definitely handle the pressure of a heated competition.

Who Will Use This Most

These guns will be used by avid paintballers. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned vet at paintball, these guns were made to serve a purpose, which is to provide hours of fun and friendly competition out in the paintball field. Whether you use a shotgun as your primary weapon and your pistol as a sidearm, you will have two reliable guns you can use at any given time.

What Could Be Improved and Why

If a holster can be included with the pistol, then a sling should be included with the shotgun. This would be an excellent accessory to have if you’re planning on carrying your airsoft shotgun for a long period of time. But first, it could sure use some sling swivels so you can attach one and be able to have it strapped to you when you’re moving about from one coverage area to the next on the battlefield.

Bottom Line

The Mossberg Tactical Long Shotgun has its unique features and characteristics that make this one of the best airsoft shotguns available. You can use the shotgun as a trusty paintball gun while using the pistol as a sidearm for when you’re in a CQB situation. Either way, you’re going to be well-prepared with a set of airsoft guns that will be fun to use.

Aspects to Consider Before Buying

Aside from the characteristics and features, you’ll need to consider some additional aspects that will factor into your decision. It’s important to mull these over before you are able to make your final purchase. They are as follows:

What Purpose Will I Use Them for?

Are you a paintballer? A casual target shooter? Do you have any animals invading your property? This is where you’ll need to decide your primary intent and purpose so you can eliminate the guns that won’t meet your needs from those that potentially stand out as your best option. 

What Type is Best for Me?

Once again, it’s entirely up to you with which type you choose. But keep in mind that if you want something with a little more power and oomph, you can consider either the battery-powered or CO2-powered airsoft guns as your best possible option. If you want something that will simply be effective at short distances, get a spring-loaded gun.

Do I Need Additional Accessories?

The short answer: it depends. It will depend on the type of gun you get. One type would be your semi-automatic rifles with a rail attached. The rail might be useful if you intend to mount a scope on top with the intent to boost the accuracy of the rifle itself. If you use a pistol, you might want to consider a red dot sight as a good option as well.

Pros And Cons of Cheap Airsoft Guns

You will enjoy some pretty good benefits by using a cheap airsoft gun. However, with the benefits come the downsides. The following is a list of what you might expect should you invest in a cheap airsoft gun of your own:

Pros

Affordable for Most Budgets

There are a handful of airsoft guns that don’t come cheap. Especially the higher-end types. But rest assured, you’ll be able to find one that is affordable and will still work just as well as any other airsoft gun you’ll find on the market.

Excellent For Recreational Purposes

These airsoft guns are a ton of fun to use, especially when you’re using paintball pellets in a friendly competition. Alternatively, you can use them for target practice or simply tuning up your gun for the next competition.

Easy to Maintain and Clean

Yes, most of these airsoft guns are easy to assemble and clean. Your goal is to do this as regularly as possible if you intend to use it for the long-term (i.e. a couple of years). The quality is decent with most of these guns, so don’t worry about breaking them if you’re trying to take them apart. They’re mostly made from durable materials so you won’t have any trouble breaking them down safely.

Cons

The Quality is Hit or Miss

We mentioned in the previous section that most of the airsoft guns are of decent quality. However, there are some that fail to have an adequate level of reliability. Some airsoft guns are durable enough to take on some bumps and bangs while others hold their own for a while and then suddenly fall apart.

Not Best for the Very Long-Term

At best, these cheap airsoft guns will probably give you a couple of years of reliable service. If you take good care of it, you might prolong the lifespan a bit more. However, these won’t be as good to use later on down the line. That’s why they’re great for beginner level users. At some point, you’ll probably want to consider upgrading to a newer and much better quality airsoft gun.

Conclusion

Finding the best cheap airsoft gun will take some time and a little bit of digging around. Be sure to look for the best one for you, depending on the intent and purpose. Whether it’s a pistol, a rifle, or a shotgun, you’ll find that one of these eight cheap airsoft guns will be your best friend in the competition field or on the target range if you want something that’s accurate, reliable, and very enjoyable to use. 

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