I keep seeing beginners asking what gun they should get... to keep the forums a bit clearer, I've made this thread.
Either PM me, or post here with your budget, the style of gun you prefer, what you'll be using it for and I (or another member) will help you via PM.


When posting, please following this guideline:

1. Price Range
If you can spend $200, you can spend $220 or $230. If you post a $100 price range then I'm going to assume that you can mow the lawn or work overtime if there's a significantly better gun that you could get from slightly over your budget.

2. Play Style
Almost everyone falls into a certain "role", and their weapon usually reflects that. Read up on what different roles are and what they do here:
http://www.airsoftforum.com/board/What-s-Role-t27259.html
Note: An M4 or other assault rifle or submachine gun with a box/drum/c-mag is not a "SAW", "Support Gun", or a "Machine Gun".

3. Play Area
Where do you play? In a forest? In an old warehouse? CQB, field, woodland?

4. Style Preference
What model of real-steel weapon do you want your replica to... replicate? Don't be afraid to be specific, but understand that your budget may restrict your options.
If your replica style has to comply with a certain loadout/impression, please list it here.

This is not a thread in which we post and you read; rather, you post and WE read. So go for it, we're here to help!

This post has been edited by hydralover: Dec 5 2009, 01:36 AM

Now that you guys have posted two different opinions, the new guys still don't know who to agree with, and what to do.

What good did this do now?

Yes, ok I take back that spring guns are a bad idea to start airsoft with but most people I talk to seem to think that starting airsoft with a sniper (namely a high end and expensive) is a bad idea. So yes a cheap springer is possibly a good idea. Also about the gas guns. I have to say that my first gun was in fact an HFC Glock 17 so yes gas guns are also a good idea. but I think what we are both getting at is not to spend lots of money on a gun unless you know that you want to pursue the sport as a regular hobby.

One final alternative is (if your local site offers this option) is to rent. Renting a gun is cheap and will mean you get an idea of using an AEG.

Perfectly stated. Now, I'd like to give my recommendations for cheap AEG's...
AK47
AK74
M16 or this M16
M4
G36C
G36K
M14
AUG
Note that although E1's are rebrands of other clones, they often put in extras (metal bushings, spring guides, etc.)
For a complete list of who rebrands who, click here.

Well, I have been debating which gun to pick for awhile. It will be my first and I don't really want to spend a ton. I narrowed it down to three. They are the M3181AB, M3081C, and M3081A. They are all by UK Arms and can be found on airsofttitan.com. I am open though to any other suggestions as I honestly know nothing about airsoft so far. I would prefer something electric and around $50.
-Thanks in advance

Ok so I had a look at the guns you were thinking of and they really don't look to good to me> I can't see a brand name and the overall price of the gun suggests to me a cheap low powered electric gun (LPEG).

I am guessing that you are after an M4 of some sort and I have to bear the bad news that you wont be able to get a decent one for around $50. You can get the guns you are looking at if you like but I would seriously deter you from doing this if you plan on getting heavily involved in the sport. I have left some links to guns I feel you may be interested in and there the cheapest I could find.

http://www.airsoftgi.com/product_info.php?products_id=2108

http://www.airsoftgi.com/product_info.php?products_id=3341

I am not used to buying guns from the US as I live in Britain so I would wait and see if you can get a response from someone else. It would also be worth asking/waiting for a post from "Kavurcen" he is incredibly helpfull and will be sure to find the gun you are after but these are the cheapest M4's I could find.

Hope this helps

One final note.

Have you actually been to a skirmish? If not then why not go to a few and rent a gun before you consider buying one of your own. This would probably be the best thing to do unless you are certain you want a gun.

Edit:

The Echo1 M4 is also a great gun but is a bit more expensive.

http://www.airsoftgi.com/product_info.php?...roducts_id=1975


This post has been edited by Miles-1877: Apr 28 2009, 03:53 PM

Ty!
Anyway... to you, Joey-Kize, I would say that any and all AEG's costing under $100 (with around three exceptions) have a plastic gearbox and therefore are worthless.
Allow me to elaborate: If a gun's gearbox is plastic, then not only will it be extremely weak, but it will break in a number of weeks. There are no good plastic-gearbox AEG's, period.
The cheapest decent AEG on the market would be the Galaxy MP5K, or alternatively, the Well Skorpion. If you want a good gun, however, I strongly recommend that you save up at least enough money to get one of the guns that Miles mentioned. Or, as Miles also mentioned, rent a gun.
BTW, I found a cheaper M4.

Since apparently the interface doesn't like me editing my posts, I'd like to add that while the Well Skorpion is a decent gun, it's really more of an AEP.
What I would recommend, though, is this with this.
Spring guns are perfect as first/beginner guns, and that is with no doubt the best non-sniper spring gun on the market.

This post has been edited by soldierbane: Jun 15 2009, 02:10 PM

Better than spring shotguns?

honestly get a shotgun. the utg m3 is pretty dang good for about $55 and 6 spare shells for $15.

Oops, sorry, forgot the UTG multishots...
With that one exception out of the way, I stand by my statement.

And the TM Multishots?
The CAW M1014s?
The the Echo M1014s?
And the G&P 870's?
Maruzen 870's?
VFC 870's?

There is more, trust me.

But let's think about the prices of those guns. You think any new guy is going to want to pay that much? That is why the UTG shotguns are the perfect beginner springers. Well, and the TSD Sports ones.

This was a guy who was looking at guns for around $50, not $200.
Needless to say, though, those are all good guns.
EDIT: Oops, EBH beat me to it.

This post has been edited by Kavurcen: Apr 29 2009, 10:54 PM

I was arguing the point that the UTG pistol was "no doubt the best non-sniper spring gun on the market". That has nothing to do with the price of anything, or if a new guy would want it.

Oh well though, now everyone understands.

Final, revised statement:
With the exception of UTG and TSD multi-shot shotguns, for a non-sniper spring-operated gun for a comparable price range you cannot get a better gun than the UTG MK23 Navy Seal pistol.

Come on... with a thread like this there is no excuse for a "which gun" thread, anywhere.

This post has been edited by soldierbane: Jun 15 2009, 02:10 PM

Agreed but I still keep seeing them pop up now and again

Well I bought that piece o' crap M16 with the grenade launcher. The gun wasn't that bad... except for the fact that it didn't fire when switched to full auto. The gun really didn't suck anywhere near as much as the company does. I called them to tell them that the auto didn't work and that it didn't come with a flashlight or laser like it was supposed to. They have no answering machine and haven't returned our emails..... escalated it to a claim on paypal.
So.... should I get this then instead? http://www.airsoftgi.com/product_info.php?products_id=2108 It looks pretty good.

PS: DON'T BUY FROM AIRSOFTTITAN!!!!

No. Good M4's start at $140 with the Combat Machine. It has great internals, and the externals may be ABS but they are far more durable than JG externals.
http://www.airsoftgi.com/product_info.php?products_id=4587

The JG will be probably twice as good as your current gun. While it's not as good as the Combat Machine it should serve your purpose and if properly taken care of it has the potential to last a long time not to mention that it is easily upgradeable if something were to break and you could upgrade to a metal body if you so chose.

If you ask me, the difference between the Combat Machine and the JG in quality is so great that the $30 makes it an absolute no-brainer.

Have you ever used either of them or are you just assuming this?

I've used the CM and the JG S-System, close enough. I'm always "that guy" at the field: "Ooh, nice gun, can I see it?", lol.

This post has been edited by Kavurcen: Jun 15 2009, 08:02 PM

Hey Kav thanks for making this thread (I actually joined ASF just so I could post here). I have been reading non-stop for the past two days about which gun I should begin my Airsoft hobby with. Here are my particulars:

Budget: $300
Style I prefer: I really dig the G36 look. Maybe in K length w/o integrated sight.
I imagine I will be doing mostly outdoor scenarios, perhaps some indoor at some point, Who knows? I mainly just want to be able to be flexible (IE nothing that would restrict me to CQB)

Thanks for the help!

Wow, someone joined ASF because of my thread? Lol, thanks!
Anyway, in airsoft,it's the other way around... you aren't restricted to CQB by a short gun, but you're restricted to field by a long gun.
So, having personally handled it and deemed it crazy awesome, for you a KWA G36C: http://www.airsoftgi.com/product_info.php?...roducts_id=2170
Also, get a lipo set. Here's just an example, you can get them for as cheap as $45: http://www.airsoftgi.com/product_info.php?products_id=3675

Thanks for the reply. I am also interested in the M4 style (my friend tells me that these are much more upgradeable?) What would you suggest as far as that goes?

Lipos are a pain in the :censored2: and prone to damage I would recommend a good quality NiMh over them.

I am now the proud soon-to-be-owner of a KWA MK36c (In transit from airsoftgi). I went with a 9.6v 2000mha battery and smart charger. Also got a pack of .25's because apparently this thing comes out of the box firing over 380fps.

Yep, that's KWA internals for ya! Their externals on the G36 are solid, too, I don't care what b.s. some people say... Good luck with it!
And @ SB, if you take care of them right then the results are way more than worth it.

Alright for whatever reason I just don't like the Combat Machine.......
Do either of these earn approval?
http://www.airsoftgi.com/product_info.php?...roducts_id=1975
http://www.airsoftgi.com/product_info.php?...roducts_id=3432
The JG looks a little better at a glance, but I feel safer with the Echo1's warranty (THEY ACTUALLY HAVE AN OFFICIAL WEBSITE! IN ENGLISH!).

I have not ordered yet. I want to be sure my money isn't wasted. I'm playing in woods, mostly at longer ranges, and need accuracy, and was wondering which gun will provide LONGEST LASTING USE AND SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE for around the 130 range?

http://www.airsoftgi.com/product_info.php?...roducts_id=4219
http://www.airsoftgi.com/product_info.php?...roducts_id=2560
http://www.airsoftgi.com/product_info.php?...roducts_id=4602
http://www.airsoftgi.com/product_info.php?...roducts_id=2910

This post has been edited by LG#6: Jun 19 2009, 10:14 PM

E1=JG, and JG M4's=Sub-meh-rine. If for some strange reason you don't like the CM, go with a Dboys. They have several versions... SIR, S-system, CASV, all sorts of different RIS/RAS, and a regular M4A1. All of them are full metal (aluminum, as far as I know, not pot).


For some reason, none of those links work for me. Could you just say which gun it is?

Ooooookaaaaay..... well the only two I want to look at now are these:
http://www.airsoftgi.com/product_info.php?...roducts_id=1975
http://www.airsoftgi.com/product_info.php?...roducts_id=1973
Obviously the Carbine is out of stock. The carbine version was the one I originally wanted. They seem to be the same thing, the size looks like the only difference. So, out of those two, which should I get?

Well... those are both Jg's, which are not so good.
Get this: http://www.airsoftgi.com/product_info.php?products_id=4587

+1 for the G&G. I just ordered one and all the reviews I looked at said great gun. see you on chat kav

Yep. See yah too...

Might I also add that (as far as I know) this thread is now the most viewed topic in the entire New Members section?!

AAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
Are you doing this to me on purpose? I have already told you I DO NOT WANT THE COMBAT MACHINE.
Please.... simply tell me which of those two echo1s should I get (I AM GETTING ONE OF THEM!). Please... don't recommend some other gun to me. Please... if you don't even have any real knowledge about any of these guns, tell me and I will look for advice elsewhere.
PLUS.... all the guns I have asked about and you shot down have been ones you recommended to me earlier... check your links. If you are playing with me then stop, I did not come here to waste my time.
.......Thank you

To be simple - I would go with this you will appreciate the collapsable stock.

One of the reason's why Kavurcen said the KWA G36c is because he took me to a game and I own the KWA G36c and he liked it.... a lot.
Anyways, its an amazing gun, it has a good weight, shoots well. FPS for mine COMPLETELY stock is 385-410FPS. The accuracy is dead-on, and there really isn't anything that it needs. It also has an enlarged handguard(where the battery goes in) so batteries fit it very well. My 8.4v battery actually slides around in my handguard(sorry if its not supposed to be called a handguard, I can't remember the actual name of it right now)

also to Joey-kize, chill down man. Yea they did say the combat machine like 40 times, but just chill. Also, go with what Miles says. A collapsible stock will be really helpful in the future, and I personally think it looks better than a full stock.

This post has been edited by AEGmaniac: Jun 21 2009, 03:54 PM

The ONLY difference between those two is the size so it's all up to preference.

What MP5 should I buy with a budget of $180?

right now I have it between a JG MK5A5 w/ retractable stock or or a Classic Army MK5A2 with both of these I would also be getting 5 mid cap magazines, but I am open to other gun suggestions. I will be using it outdoors in woods type games and will also need to get a mid-cap magazine as the field I play at doesn't allow Hi-caps or FPS above 400 with AEGS (which I think is dumb but I guess adds to realism)

This post has been edited by NUSCerick: Jun 21 2009, 09:05 PM