May 3, 2017
If you’ve ever spent more than five minutes in an airsoft store or looked around on an airsoft forum or Facebook group, you’ve come across this question.
“I’m brand new to airsoft, so what’s the best gun for me?”
This is a question that will always be a part of the sport we all love and hold dear, because there isn’t an easy answer to it. The same way that the .45ACP fanboys in the real-steel world can’t ever let the 9mm heroes have the last word, nobody can seem to agree on the best answer for what the best beginner set up is for an airsofter. Is it the 10 inch M4 with an RIS? Is it the plastic fantastic AK47 style model that has the rave reviews online? What about the budget stuff from a big box store? The answer may surprise you.
The answer to this question is simple. There is no “best” gun. There is no “best” setup. Only what works best for you!
What this means is that the only person who can really answer this question for you is yourself. To answer this fundamental question though, let’s break it down a bit and ask some additional questions to get the necessary information.
Question 1: What is my budget?
Budget is important, as obviously, you can’t spend money you don’t have. Decide what your ultimate bottom line is for jumping in, and then decide what that budget has to cover. Are you looking at 250$ just for a gun because your buddy is going to loan you gear? Is your budget going to include everything you need to play like a facemask or gear?
Question 2: What do I want to shoot?
The second most important thing about an airsoft gun is finding one that makes you feel awesome. What good is spending $500+ on a super slick new blaster and never playing because it’s too heavy, or because it doesn’t look neat or make you feel awesome. Decide what style of gun you would like to play with. This can be an aesthetic preference based on looks or what you like in video games or it can be an extension of what you enjoy shooting when you shoot firearms.
Question 3: How do I want to Play?
The last question is what do you want this gun to do? Have you been watching a ton of Novristch videos or Swamp Sniper and feel the need to become one with the dirt and play the long-range game? Do you like watching CQB or Speedsoft videos and want to be a hard charger kicking in doors? Maybe you have no idea what you want to do and would like a gun that’s a bit more versatile.
Once you have these questions answered, you have the data necessary to determine what gun is best for you! From here, you can work within your budget to plan for extra equipment necessities like a facemask or tactical gear, or even extra magazines so you don’t run out of ammunition on the field. It’s a complex question to answer, and it’s never going to get easier because there isn’t one gun that’s perfect for every beginning player. However, now, you too, can find the best gun for what you want to accomplish!
