How Far can Airsoft Guns Shoot? Our Guide on Effective Ranges for Your AEG’s, Sniper Rifles, & Pistols
There’s a difference between maximum range, and effective range. Knowing the difference will help you be a better airsoft player.
Whether you’re out on your own, in a tactical airsoft team or battling, chances are you’ve got a few questions about Airsoft. One of the most common ones we get at AirsoftCore is how far can various styles of airsoft guns shoot. Below are some answers along with additional questions/answers for better understanding.
How far can airsoft guns shoot?
The majority of airsoft guns are able to shoot a distance of about 120 feet to about 180 feet with a reasonable hit rate on a man-sized target. This range can be increased if the player is willing to install the right upgraded internals and tune their gun. With these a user can increase the max range to about to 250 feet or more.
The range of airsoft sniper rifles and pistols is going to vary, but generally users can maximize their range on the field by tuning their hop-up and test with different BB weights and brands. Even the best airsoft shotguns are capable of touching targets out beyond 150 feet.
Increasing BB Quality is the Easiest Way to Increase Effective Range & Accuracy
You’ll find the your BB weight and quality dramatically changes the flight path of your BB. Below are some very high quality recommendations for perfect BB’s to maximize the accuracy and effective range of your airsoft guns.
The three most popular weights are:
- 0.20g – the standard most chronographs & fields measure at
- 0.25g – a middle ground between max range and consistency
- 0.32g – high consistency at the cost of reducing range
Note: Try not to use .12g BBs as they tend to be made of low quality material. They not only have terrible flight patterns they also a liable to break your gun because they shatter and jam up your internals. Many of the high end manufacturers will not provide warranty to your airsoft gun if you had used .12g BBs.
How far can an airsoft pistol shoot?
Airsoft pistols are capable of hitting targets at a decent distance away. We think 40 – 60 feet is a reasonable estimation of effective range – although the BB can technically fly as far as 150 feet. Effective distance is going to vary heavily on the quality of the airsoft pistol as well as the training of the user.
A well trained pistol user should be able to do the following two things:
- Create a good sight picture (properly looking down sights)
- Squeeze the trigger consistently without jerking your finger
Being able to do the above two things will ensure that your effective range increases without ever needing to actually upgrade anything with the gun.
We do believe that having the best airsoft pistol and high quality heavy BB’s will contribute to adding to your effective range. We’ve seen pistol shots hit a man sized target out to 120 feet with very well tuned internals, high quality BB’s, and a trained marksman.
Below are some of our recommendations for airsoft pistols that come stock with great internals. We’ve had great experiences with TM, KWA, KSC, and VFC airsoft pistols.
How far do airsoft sniper rifles shoot?
Airsoft sniper rifles are different from conventional firearms. For starters these are made to shoot at a very high FPS. This is in order to ensure users get the most effective range with heavier BB’s. Next, the barrel length is about right to maximize the air volume provided by the cylinder.
Unfortunately, airsoft sniper rifles aren’t going to have much better ranges at at compared to AEG’s.
150-200 feet (in our experience) seems to be about as good as it gets in hitting man sized targets reliably. If the gun comes in the box with upgraded internals you’ll see these ranges get pushed up to even 250 feet.
There are some more immediate methods users can take in order to ensure they maximize the range of their airsoft sniper rifle. Using high quality BB’s of a heavier grade is a good start. A heavier BB will have a more flat trajectory and be far less affected by outside forces like wind. Ammo with a more perfect round shape and consistency to the manufacturing also ensures it stays consistent when making impact with the bucking. Keep in mind that this does lower the overall velocity – and the overall range as well.
How important is it in order to maximize the range of an airsoft sniper rifle?
We wouldn’t worry too much about getting the maximum distance out of your BB. What is more important is to focus on consistency. Serious airsoft players will almost all say that it is more important to be able to reliably hit your target than it is to sling the BB the furthest you can.
How far can airsoft snipers shoot?
Competitive users of airsoft sniper rifles focus a lot on on a specific engagement distance and try to adjust their position to ensure they shoot at their focused distance. Some like to focus on up to 150 feet away. At Airsoft Core we feel that effective range is more important than maximum range. Your max effective range is affected by multiple factors including:
- What weight BB’s you use
- Whether your airsoft scope is zeroed properly
- Your overall compression & airsoft rifle build quality
Most of your airsoft sniper rifles should be able to strike your opponents with a high degree of reliability at around 200 feet. High FPS options tend to come with the problem of decreased accuracy on lighter weight BB’s – but this can be solved by increasing the weight
High end parts are also important such as the barrel hop as well as compression pieces. With such upgrades sniping distance capability can reach several hundred feet, keeping reasonable accuracy in mind. Once fully upgraded, the best airsoft sniper rifle will be able to hit targets out to to 300 feet.
How far can an airsoft SMG or rifle shoot?
The best airsoft assault rifles and AEG’s are capable of great ranges. They do vary from model to model, however. You can expect shorter ranges out of the short barrel SMGs – we’d expect between 120-150 feet is a good expectation for effective range. Much like all the other airsoft options – choosing high quality ammunition will go a long way in ensuring that your BB flight path is very consistent.
Carbine and Assault Rifle length airsoft guns actually have very comparable ranges. This is because once you get to a certain length (AK length, or 433mm) the added barrel length doesn’t really add much to accuracy or range. You can expect to be able to hit targets out to 150-200 feet fairly reliably with a well tuned – high quality stock airsoft rifle.
Once again, BB quality will matter in ensuring you have a good effective range. Most AEG’s of the M4 or AK kind are very upgradable as well. Some factors that will increase the range and accuracy of your AEG here are:
- Consistent air output with high quality air compression parts
- Correct air output with the right cylinder to barrel length
- High quality hop up unit that stays rock solid
- High quality bucking for smooth consistent contact with the BB
- Top quality barrel to ensure the BB flight path is true
With the above all finely tuned your carbine length AEG can actually reach effective ranges of up to 225 feet (assuming you’re using top quality, perfectly spherical ammo).
Most of the players we find just want a high quality AEG from the start – and we’d tend to agree. The headache of needing to upgrade can cost a lot of money over time.
We have 3 below that will get you off to a great start.
What key components affect distance capabilities across the board for different airsoft guns?
As mentioned earlier there are some areas that are fairly consistent in how it affects range and accuracy. It is important to know that airsoft guns, while they look real, do not actually function like real guns. The way a BB exist your barrel is very different than a cartridge on real steel.
With that said – we think that the following areas almost always will see an improvement in range and accuracy:
- BB selection: Select BB’s .20g and higher. The higher you go – you lose some range but gain consistency. We recommend buying a few weights and trying out for yourself. Check your field regulations on maximum FPS, however.
- Hop Up Selection:Many of the more pricey airsoft options actually have good up hop up units. The hop up unit ensures your BB has backspin – allowing it to work against gravity as it exits the barrel and maintains a flight pattern that takes it longer than it otherwise would have.
- Bucking Selection: The bucking is the rubber shroud that makes contact with your BB to create the backspin. Much like tires on a car – the rubber making contact must be of high quality or else the backspin will be inconsistent.
- Power: The “FPS” of your gun helps ensure that your BB is exiting at the optimal speed to create the backspin effect that’ll give you range. Too low of an fps and the backspin won’t matter – and your BB will just fall to the ground. Too high an fps and your field won’t let you play on it.
- Consistent air output: Your air nozzle will expel air at a fast rate. What is important is how consistent the air output is. This is not easy to measure – but it does play a factor in how consistent your BB backspins are.
When it comes to shooting distance how are different types of airsoft guns going to factor into this, such as electric/Co2 or spring powered options?
Spring powered airsoft guns tend to be a little weaker and cheaper than their gas and electric counterparts, but this doesn’t always have to be true. The fact is, most airsoft bolt action sniper rifles are simply well tuned spring action guns.
Upgrades can increase power as previously mentioned earlier.. These guns are extremely basic by themselves, but are capable of an FPS as high as 500.
Gas powered options are able to shoot out BBs with a velocity that’s higher than spring powered options. They are also semi-automatic. However, gas output can vary heavily depending on the weather and how fast you are shooting. Try shooting a gas blow back pistol 20 times in succession and you’ll see the FPS drop dramatically. Some of the best airsoft revolvers are capable of touching targets out to 150 ft.
Electric powered options are seen as being one of the best option for those who are serious about airsoft play whether it is casual or competitive. Electric powered options (AEGs) can maintain consistency with a very high rate of fire.
Electric airsoft guns are typically seen as the cream of the crop for most players. They are durable, easy to maintain, and are the most popular choice on the market.
HPA (High Pressure Air) airsoft guns are for only the most advanced users. These airsoft guns utilize the same air tanks as paintball and provide the MOST consistent and customizable air output of all the options. However, they are extremely pricey and finicky. They almost always need to be custom built.
Does the amount of money a person spend heavily impact the distance capabilities of an airsoft gun?
Yes and No.
The better brands are going to be more pricey – but they do some stock with better internal parts & the external build has a tendency to be much better. This means that they fire BB’s at a far more consistent rate. Their hop up units and buckings tend to be of better quality as well meaning the backspin will be far better and give your BB that extra range and accuracy.
Cheaper brands have a tendency to have more loose tolerances on the internals and their consistency usually leaves a bit to be desired. This does affect range and accuracy by a significant margin – but we’re still only looking at a loss of 20-30 feet.
In general – you could still go to a field and have a great day airsofting at range with a lower budget airsoft rifle.
How far does an airsoft gun shoot compared to a paintball marker?
We actually have that article here: airsoft vs paintball. In general, airsoft guns will fire more accurately at distance than paintball markers, but the difference isn’t too much.
What are some brands we recommend at Airsoft Core that are reputable and good quality?
We actually just wrote an article about the best airsoft brands. Check it out in that link.
Conclusion: There’s a Trend with How Far An Airsoft Gun Can Shoot
We hope that breakdown of the various ranges an airsoft gun can achieve was informative. Due to the dynamics of a 6mm BB – there is only so far an airsoft gun can actually fling the BB in a consistent trajectory that will allow you to reliably hit your target. A basic breakdown would look like below assuming the airsoft guns were stock:
- Spring Pistol Range: 40 Feet
- Gas Blow Back Pistol Range: 50 – 80 feet
- AEG SMG Range: 120 – 150 feet
- AEG Carbine Range: 150 – 200 feet
- AEG Assault Rifle Range: 175 – 225 feet
- Sniper Rifle Range: 150 – 200 feet
Brand is important due to the reliability of capabilities along with overall effectiveness the way a user wants it. At Airsoft Core we strive to provide nothing but reliable brands, where distance capabilities can be trusted no matter if it’s a gas powered, electric or spring powered option.
Tim has been playing airsoft since 1994. With over a thousand (no lie) airsoft games under his belt he has spent countless hours testing various airsoft guns and tactical gear. He's gotten hundreds (still no lie) of people into the airsoft hobby and is more than willing to spread the love of slinging 6mm plastic to any new player.
