Last update: March 24, 2025
For the more hardcore players, having a an airsoft pistol as a reliable sidearm is a must. Having a backup weapon on the field should your primary jam, or run out of ammo mid game can keep you going strong. Pistols can also make for some fun scenario and CQB play, or classic cops and robbers games. CO2 powered pistols can quite accurate and powerful, which can also make them super fun for target shooting.
As with out other airsoft equipment reviews, we are rating each model based on functionality, price and durability. There are a flood of cheap plastic models saturating the market, and our goal is to help you find a model that will actually last more than one field outing. We recommend looking at CO2 powered airsoft pistols as your go to sidearm, and even better if there is an all metal body or slide to round out the package. Gas powered models leave cheaper spring powered options in the dust, both in terms of muzzle velocity and rate of fire.
As with the more realistic rifles, remember to transport and keep your pistols away from the hands of children and avoid any scenario where you could encounter law enforcement. Handguns are even harder to identify at a distance and can lead to deadly mixups, even with the safety orange tips. Always transport them safely and only bring them out on the field!
Top Rated Airsoft Pistols of 2024
Umarex Walther P99 Blowback CO2 Airsoft Pistol
Planet PB Review Score
Any James Bond fans will instantly recognize the iconic walther P99. A seriously awesome looking sidearm, and an extremely high quality replica that functions almost identically to the real thing. This is a CO2 airsoft gun complete with a functional blowback slide that racks back in an extremely satisfying way with each shot.
The barrel is made from machined metal, and the overall construction of the handgun is from a high density polymer, much like the real weapon. The ejectable magazine holds 15 standard 6mm plastic rounds, and the CO2 cannister is perfectly hidden inside the grip. This P99 looks and feels like the real deal, and fires at 380FPS. It has a range of 120 ft, but like most pistols, is more accurate at close-medium range. We didn't notice any major CO2 leakage during our hands on testing.
Perfect for: Players looking for one of the best CO2 airsoft pistols on the market, James Bond fans, or those looking for a rock solid all round functional and high powered sidearms. Great for both field play and target shooting.
Full Metal Beretta M9 CO2 Blowback
Planet PB Review Score
Anyone looking for a super powerful hand cannon, look no further! This full metal beretta M9 cracks off rounds at a whopping 500FPS! Combined with the full metal construction this is hands down one of the best CO2 airsoft pistols on the market. It might actually be too powerful for some field rules, so if you have a low fps field near you, you might want to opt for a different model. Target shooters will love it's savage accuracy. There are quite a few M9 replicas on the market but most are cheap plastic, or have no blowback function. This has the best of both worlds.
The frame also has a rail system included below the barrel, so adding laser sights or flashlights is super easy. The grip is also slightly chunkier than most standard M9 grips, and given the extra weight due to the metal construction, feels satisfying and comfortable. Finally, the price point being well under $100 range makes this a fantastic option for most players looking to invest in quality, realistic gear. Looking for a lighter choice? Shoot for the P99 above.
Perfect for: Players looking for one of the most powerful models on the market, those looking for an all metal CO2 powered gun that has blowback functionality. The price, quality and functionality earns this one a rock solid 5/5 from us.
Umarex Elite Force 1911 Tactical
Planet PB Review Score
The 1911 is one of the most recognizable sidearms on the planet. This is a tactical updated version that iterates on the classic design. There is an under barrel rail that allows you to add a tactical flashlight or laser sight. The orange tipped barrel is threaded so you can add a silencer for a cool look, and the skeleton trigger looks badass! Fires standard 6mm bbs at 340FPS.
This is another extremely realistic CO2 powered replica. The slide has a super powerful blowback that cracks it back with each trigger pull. The gun itself even breaks down almost exactly the same as the real weapon. The 2 safety help you avoid misfires, but the secondary safety is a little too easy to disengage, a stiffer mechanism would be nicer. The grip is beefy and feels good in the hand and the weight is realistic, so if you like a lighter gun maybe go for a plastic model, this is a full metal airsoft pistol with a decent amount of heft to it. In terms of CO2 use, one canister will last you 4-5 magazines, not super efficient, but given the powerful blowback it's a trade off for extremely fun shooting.
Perfect for: Those looking for a tactical option, or fans of the classic 1911 design. If you are looking for a pistol with a super powerful blowback slide, then this is the one for you. Extremely accurate and shoots very straight. Gobbles CO2 a bit but its a worthwhile tradeoff.
Desert Eagle Full Auto
Planet PB Review Score
Let's get crazy! The Desert Eagle is one of the most ridiculous handguns on the planet, excessively overpowered, large and bulky, but extremely intimidating. This airsoft replica fully embraces that image and runs with it by adding the hilarious option for full auto mode. That's right...an automatic airsoft pistol. You will burn through your magazine in no time and it's a bit of a novelty but who would expect any less from this hand cannon?!
The price point puts this out of the hands of average players and more for the players with cash to burn. That's not to say you don't get value for those hard earned dollars, the entire gun is full metal and designed to be super rugged, much like the real life counterpart. The muzzle velocity on this one is 390FPS, which puts it in the range of both target shooting and field play, although unloading on full auto is going to have hilarious results for target shooting junkies.
Perfect for: Players with a baller status bankroll, fans of the legendary Desert Eagle hand cannon, or those looking for one of the few automatic airsoft pistols on the market. People WILL notice you on the field with this in hand. Minus one star not for quality but for the insane price.
CZ P09
Planet PB Review Score
The CZ P09 is a more modern design, they created a handgun that is easy to use for both left and right handed shooters. The ambidextrous design feels good in whichever hand you shoot with, with magazine releases and safety switches easily within reach. This is an officially licensed model from Ceska Zbrojovka, and is made from high density plastics, with metal internals.
The base model is CO2 powered, but you can also get magazines that allow the use of green gas. The slide has a snappy blowback and this semi auto airsoft pistol fires as fast as you can pull the trigger. The overall construction is super high quality and this is reflected by the premium price point. Probably not to attractive to beginner players, but those looking for a high end sidearm will be in love instantly. The threaded barrel allows you to add a silencer if you like that look, and the longer under barrel rails give you plenty of flashlight/laser sight options.
Perfect for: Ambidextrous or left handed players struggling to find an option that feels comfortable. The high price point is countered by the top quality design/construction, so more appealing to advanced players than beginners on a budget.
Black Ops Classic 1911
Planet PB Review Score
The Black Ops 1911 is more along the lines of the classic WW2 .45 in terms of appearance. The full metal body and slide feels super authentic and gives it a very realistic weight. The safety on this one is stiffer and has a bit of a better functionality than the Umarex model abov. We found the overall accuracy to not be as good as the tactical 1911 however. The muzzle velocity on this one is 360 FPS.
The lack of a integrated rail system make adding accessories not really feasible, so this is more of a basic backup weapon, sturdy but extremely functional. The blowback on this one feels quite powerful compared to some of the plastic models on our list.
Perfect for: Fans of the classic .45 and those looking for a realistic 1911 replica. The sturdy weight is nice, and the oldschool ww2 design looks great.
Umarex H&K USP Replica
Planet PB Review Score
For those on a beginner budget but still wanting a high powered CO2 model instead of a cheaper spring powered model, this H&K USP replica is a great choice. One of the best airsoft pistols under $50. This is a licensed replica so the details really stack up to the actual weapon, and being CO2 powered it has a decent amount of power, unloading it's 16 round mag at up to 380FPS with every trigger pull!
The one downside to this model is it is NOT a blowback gun. The slide does not crack back every time you shoot, however the hammer does operate with every trigger pull. The lack of blowback could be a factor as this was one of the most accurate models we have tested, the lack of a recoiling slide helping to keep your shots on target. The high accuracy and great value based price point makes this one of the best beginner models on the market. Great for field players on a budget or those looking to do indoor target shooting.
Perfect for: Beginners looking for a highly accurate sidearm, those on a budget who want great price vs performance, or target shooting fans looking to nail those bullseye shots.
ELite Force Glock G17
Planet PB Review Score
For some reason Glock airsoft pistols are a bit of a rarity at the moment on the market. There are few options when compared to all the Beretta and 1911 choices out there. But Umarex's Elite Force Glock G17 replica is a super high quality reproduction of the actual firearm. The metal slide has a powerful blowback response and this one is powered by green gas, not CO2.
The muzzle velocity on this one is 300FPS, so lower than some models on our top 10 list, but definitely still usable for field play and target shooting. The fullsize magazine holds 20 shots and you can find spare magazines easily availiable on amazon or online. The biggest downside to this Glock replica is the price, it is far more expensive than the more common M9 and 1911 choices on the market. While the overall construction is super rugged and the metal slide is nice, the high price point makes this unattractive to anyone but hardcore Glock fans or those with a more flexible budget. Great performance, but the high price dings the overall rating a bit.
Perfect for: Players struggling to find a high quality Glock airsoft pistol, those with a larger budget. The higher capacity 20 round magazine is a nice touch and the metal blowback slide is awesome, but the high price point makes this hard to quickly recommend.
Black Ops BOA Semi Auto
Planet PB Review Score
If you are not concered with having a blowback slide, then this could be a good option for you. The smaller size of this handgun makes it easier to conceal and less bulky in a holster. The frame is made from high density plastic, but the internals are all metal, giving it both an edge above cheaper spring powered models and a satisfying weight in the hand.
The lack of a blowback slide means you will get a lot more economy out of your CO2, around 300 shots per cartridge we found. The CO2 cart's themselves are nicely hidden in the grip, which slides open to allow you to quickly replace them. The price point is well below the $50 range and that makes this a great choice for players looking for a backup, or beginner players looking for a good balance of price vs overall quality. This little beauty cracks off rounds at 400FPS and while the barrel is shorter than most, there is still a small section of rail that allows you to add a smaller red dot or flashlight. Simple but effective design is the name of the game on this on.
Perfect for: Those not looking to break the bank, but still want a high powered CO2 airsoft handgun that feels good in the hand. No blowback means your gas goes further and shots are a bit more accurate, but it's not as fun to shoot. A great choice for beginners or those on a tighter budget.
H&K P30 Electric Airsoft Pistol
Planet PB Review Score
This one is a bit different than most of the models on this list. The H&K P30 is actually one of the few electric airsoft pistols on the market. It can fire in both semi auto and full auto, which is a nice feature, and even has a blow back slide powered by the electric firing mechanism. The gun itself feels quite solidly constructed, but also a bit more toy like than the more powerful CO2 models.
The muzzle velocity on this is 180 FPS, significantly lower than the 300 range most gas powered guns fire at, but still powerful enough to reach targets 20-30 ft away and easily register a hit. The magazine is a smaller stick style drop free design, and can hold 16 rounds. The electric motor is powered by 4 AA batteries, and not the rechargeable battery packs that most airsoft rifles use. This is a good option for back yard target shooting or more casual players. The upside is that you won't go through CO2 or green gas cannisters in a hurry, but the tradeoff is lowered muzzle velocity. The price range definitely won't break the bank and is a great value when compared to similar spring powered models in the same price range.
Perfect for: Anyone looking for an electric option, target shooters who want a lower muzzle velocity, beginners on a budget. An easy choice over a cheap spring powered model in the same price range.