Always Works! 6 Best Spring Airsoft Pistols 2019 [Simple & Affordable]

In a perfect world, all of your airsoft equipment would work 100 percent of the time. But what do you do when your rifle fails on the field? Pull out your sidearm. What if that fails? Your only option is to call yourself out. Now your team is less one member, which is especially hampering in an objective mode. What you need is a holdout spring action pistol. It may not make you the most competitive player on the field, but it beats the walk of shame back to respawn. They also make great secondaries guns for new players.

Short On Time? Here Is The Bullet List:

• Best Full Metal Spring Airsoft Pistol: UK Arms Colt 1911
• Best Spring Action Desert Eagle: SoftAir Desert Eagle .44 Magnum
• Most Powerful Spring Action Pistol: Firepower .45 Metal Slide
• Best Budget Spring Action Pistol: BBTac BT M-22 High Power
• Best Compact Spring Action Pistol: ASG CZ 75D Compact
• Best Overall Spring Action Pistol: UTG Sport M1911 Full Metal Spring Pistol

**Below are our more detailed reviews. Click the links above to see current prices or read customer reviews on Amazon.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Spring Action Pistols

Spring action pistols make great backup airsoft guns. You’re not going to pull off sniper shots with a springer, but you can cover an entrance until it’s safe to ready your primary again.

Most spring airsoft pistols are inexpensive, so you’re not going to break the bank. They make great gifts for newbies and veteran airsofters alike. They’re also a great option if you’re looking to get a young family member into airsoft without handing them an expensive piece of equipment to break.

An arsenal of airsoft spring pistols opens up many options for some interesting games you can play with small groups of friends. What if you fall into a large puddle or creek? You won’t want to use your electric airsoft gun or your gas pistol until you’re sure you won’t do any damage to them. That springer in your pocket, though? It doesn’t have a battery or a gas cartridge. It should work fine if you get soaked on the field.

If you’re the type of player that looks to pump pure performance out of your primary, you’re accustomed to dealing with engagement restrictions. A springer in your kit means you won’t have to safety kill or surrender every enemy you meet within ten feet. Most airsoft spring pistols don’t have high muzzle velocities. They usually clock in at 250 feet per second.

That said, the FPS of a springer is one of its limitations. Since airsoft pistols don’t have hop-up units, the BB won’t be very accurate either. You’ll have a lot of trouble hitting a moving target. With a low FPS, your target may not feel or even hear the hit when you’ve shot them. You may need to hit them more than once. A spring pistol works best for holding a narrow passage or catching someone unawares.

Another problem with spring action pistols is they tend to be made of poor quality materials. For some pistols, a collision with a wall could crack the frame. Still, there’s not a lot internally that could go wrong with the pistol. As long as you oil the pistol’s spring and tighten any screws once in awhile, your springer will last a long time. Even if it does break, replacing it won’t empty your wallet. Unfortunately, some of the airsoft spring pistols out there are sealed, so you won’t be able to open them.

How do Airsoft Spring Action Pistols Work?

Spring action pistols are simple devices. Basically, the system uses collected air and a spring to fire the BB on the trigger pull. When you load a magazine into your spring pistol, you’re not yet ready to fire. First, you need to add tension to the mainspring by pulling on the slide or hammer. This opens a chamber in the gun and allows air into it. A small notch in that chamber catches on another part connected to the trigger.

When you pull the trigger, that part disengages from the chamber. The released tension pulls the whole chamber forward. The collected air contacts the BB, sending it out of the barrel. Then, the spring in the magazine pushes another BB into the barrel, ready for another shot. Because of the simplicity of the system, there isn’t much that can break inside the gun.

What to Look for in an Airsoft Spring Action Pistol

When you’re in the market for a spring action pistol, the first thing you need to consider is exterior build quality. You don’t want your holdout breaking on you from a drop. Some of them may even crack if you bend them wrong during a squat. There are a few full metal options out there for you and even they won’t cost you more than $30.

Since performance is pretty much the same across all spring action pistols, you don’t need to factor that into your decision. You do want to consider magazine size. After all, you don’t want to have to reload your last resort. Since it’s difficult to find extra magazines for individual models, you will usually have the one mag. And if that’s the case, you want it to be a deep mag. 15 or more BBs is a good amount to have. After that, there’s this factor to consider. Does it look nice? Is it the right size for your hands? Is it a replica of your favorite firearm? What about price? Will it be easy to replace if it breaks on you?

Now with all that in mind, here are a few spring action pistols that we recommend! All of the airsoft pistols are tested with .12 gram BBs. If you load them with the standard .20g weight rounds, you’ll see a lower FPS, but a little more accuracy and range.

Best Spring Airsoft Pistols on the Market

Best Full Metal Spring Airsoft Pistol:

UK Arms Colt 1911

If you’re looking for an airsoft pistol that’s full metal, a good choice for you is the UK Arms Colt 1911. The only plastic parts on this piece are the mock-wood grip and the magazine. Expect this one to stand up to tough conditions on the field. Though the plastic grip plate may crack, it will only mar the cosmetic quality of the airsoft gun. It will not affect performance. And the iron sights, while very low to the frame, aren’t of much use anyway. You’re not going to be sniping with a spring action pistol, anyway.

Pros:

• Tough full metal construction
• 240-275 FPS
• 18 round magazine
• Two-tone World War 2 look

Cons:

• Grip is poor quality plastic
• Short hard to use iron sights

Check Amazon

Best Spring Action Desert Eagle:

SoftAir Desert Eagle .44 Magnum

Nothing beats the feeling of the airsoft hand cannon in the hand. The SoftAir Desert Eagle .44 spring action pistol comes in all black and a shiny two-tone silver and black. The airsoft gun may be made of plastic, but it’s still durable. Fully loaded, it weighs one pound, which is a lot for spring action pistols. The Desert Eagle .44 is surprisingly accurate and has great range for a spring pistol. While the price of this gun is a little high, the value is there. You could buy a low-end non-blowback gas pistol with the money you spend on the SoftAir Desert Eagle. That gas pistol would likely fall apart after the first few mags. And while it’s too big for a pocket, why would you want to hide it? The SoftAir Desert Eagle is something you’ll want your enemies to see on the battlefield.

Pros:

• 240 FPS
• Deep 28 round magazine
• Slide locks back on empty magazine
• Full IMI trademarks

Cons:

• Too large to fit in pocket
• Pricey for spring action pistols

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Most Powerful Spring Action Pistol:

Firepower .45 Metal Slide

A springer firing higher than 250 FPS is a rare find. The Firepower .45 fires at 328 FPS. While it will still be hard to hit a moving target because of your rate of fire, means your target will feel the hit. As advertised, the slide is metal and the frame is a good quality plastic. The Firepower .45 doesn’t exactly have a real-world counterpart, which is why there are no impressive trademarks on it. And while the magazine is a little small, you won’t empty it when it counts.

Pros:

• 328 FPS
• Metal slide
• Unique look
• Stippled pistol grip

Cons:

• Low magazine capacity at 12 rounds
• Unrealistic trademarks

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Best Budget Spring Action Pistol:

BBTac BT M-22 High Power

The BBTac BT M-22 is a strong choice if you’re looking to save a little more money on your spring pistol. It’s also great to stock up for special game modes to play with friends on a small scale. It looks a little like a Beretta M9 and is about the same size. It will easily fit in a pocket ready for the last stand. While this gun is made almost completely out of plastic, it doesn’t have to be a problem. It will last you a long time if you treat it right.

Pros:

• Included mock suppressor
• Metal barrel
• 300 FPS
• Low price

Cons:

• Full plastic construction
• Low 15 round magazine

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Best Compact Spring Action Pistol:

ASG CZ 75D Compact

The ASG CZ 75D is a great platform in a small package. It has a durable metal trigger that you won’t have to worry about breaking with regular use. Most of the gun is plastic, though. It has an accessory rail on the frame. It would be best to use a flashlight if you put anything up front. Loading the magazine is pretty fast, though there’s only 13 round in it. It can be disassembled to perform maintenance. The safety is especially exciting since it gives a nice loud snap to confirm you’re on safe. It’s rather accurate as well, out to 70 feet. I love the feel of compact pistols in the hand. While this pistol is made of plastic, it isn’s the usual ABS plastic. It’s the more rugged plastic polymer. The low FPS may be a problem, but your target should feel a hit if you hit them in close range. This is where any spring action pistol does best.

Pros:

• Unique look
• Most important parts are metal
• Railed frame for accessories
• Metal internal parts
• Rubberized grips

Cons:

• Low capacity 13 round magazine
• Plastic construction
• Low FPS of 210

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Best Overall Spring Action Pistol:

UTG Sport M1911 Full Metal Spring Pistol

This UTG Sport pistol is one of the best available. The only plastic parts on this piece are the grip covers and the outer barrel. The rest of it is made of a strong metal that won’t crack under duress. Even the magazines are metal! While its magazines have a low capacity at 13 rounds, there’s room for 90 BBs in a special compartment in the mag. To reload using this feature, turn the magazine upside down and pull down the spring. Then, shake the magazine until the channel fills. Like a real M1911, the UTG Sport has two safeties. One is on the grip, and the other is a slide stop style. You’ll find the pull of the trigger actuates the hammer as well. This is a feature not included with most spring action pistols. It also breaks down like a real 1911, so maintenance is easy.

Pros:

• Full metal construction
• Two included magazines
• Unique magazine speedloader feature

Cons:

• Painted surfaces scratch easily
• 13 round low magazine capacity
• Iron sights are short

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Best Spring Airsoft Pistol Final Thoughts

The UTG Sport M1911 comes ahead in this spring action all-call because of its durability and the value of what comes in the package. The two magazines, while not especially deep, have a handy speed load feature that isn’t available in gas blowback pistols four times its price. Most springers on the market only come with one magazine. The UTG Sport M1911 will not disappoint. Any gas blowback pistol will outpace your airsoft spring action pistol. But that’s not why you buy a springer. Their value comes from their low price point and the simplicity of design. The spring action pistol shines when the rest of your equipment fails. Should the worst happen during a game, don’t walk back to spawn empty-handed. Pull out your airsoft spring action pistol and go down swinging.

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