Before you buy your first airsoft gun...

Before you spend your hard-earned money on an airsoft gun, make sure that you have made the right decision.

When buying an airsoft gun you need to make sure that you are buying a brand that is known for being reliable.

Brands for new players to avoid:

Tokyo Marui guns are made basically of plastic and have a low FPS. These issues are not major as long you handle your AEG with care. For example, the Thompson M1A1 has a weak section between the magazine and foregrip. If you drop the gun there is a good chance it will snap in half.

Despite their minor differences Tokyo Marui guns are very similar to each other. Think about your favoraite gun type and what type of games you will be involved in. For example, will you be playing airsoft indoors CQB-style? If so, short guns such as the P90 or even MP5k may be entirely appropriate. If you plan on playing outdoors consider getting a longer gun for a little extra range. All AR-15 style guns (M16, M4, and SR-16) will work very well with surplus US military gear which is plentiful and cheap, additionally magazines are interchangeable among guns of the same family.

Brands for spring-powered airsoft pistols "springers": Don't worry about this, at $25 or $30 a pop, most "springers" are just for fun. There is not as much consistency with springers as there is with AEGs. Some models are more powerful than others. If you know someone with a lot of springers, try out their guns and find out what works best for you.

Gas pistols: KWA is the leader by far. Which gas pistol you want will depend on what you do with it. Once again, there is a big difference here between collectors and players (although many fall into both categories.) Western Arms pistols look very good, but are not very powerful. KWA makes a Sig, Colt and Beretta pistol.  You cannot get any NEW Glocks as they have been banned by Glock being sold.  You may find a few on eBay and if you do, buy it.  It's a great gun and very dependable.  KWA still services the Glock.

Who should I buy my airsoft guns from?

There is no perfect answer for this. There are many airsoft retailers on the internet today. All of my airsoft gun purchases involved other players, some who were importing large orders. Many airsoft players have several airsoft guns. They buy another airsoft gun on a whim, upgrade it, and use it once. Generally this is were you can get a good deal -- but you need to know the player and exactly what you are getting.

If you are considering playing airsoft games with established teams, ask around and find out if anyone sells airsoft guns. Better yet, ask everyone who they bought their guns from. I can't tell you that one particular airsoft retailer or website is the best simply because you may have a better alternative. If you are lucky, you may even be able to get new airsoft guns at cost.

Also, it is generally best not to buy pre-upgraded guns. There are very reputable retailers who will upgrade guns for you, but usually they do this after you buy your gun. Once again, ask around locally or on internet message boards and find out who other players recommend.

For more information about airsoft guns read our section on What is the best airsoft gun?