The only way you can find the best BB guns these days is through a comprehensive research and product comparison
The kind of amusement and thrill you get from using these guns will most likely make the research worth it. Just make sure the BB gun review you’re reading offers all the essential key points to analyze.
Whether it’s just for recreational purposes or you want to practice your hunting skills, these key points must involve the different configurations of BB guns, types and even brand reputation of their makers.
Let this guide below be your comprehensive cheat sheet so you can get the best value for your money.
Top 8 BB Guns: Comparison Chart
To know the best BB guns that suits your preferences, make sure you consider these following products from major brands:
| Image | Name | Features | Price |
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Daisy Outdoor Products Model 1938 Red Ryder BB Gun |
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Umarex Glock 17 Blowback .177 Caliber BB Gun Air Pistol |
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Check Price |
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Ruger Blackhawk Combo air rifle |
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Check Price |
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Crosman M4-177 Pneumatic Pump .177 Air Rifle |
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Check Price |
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Smith & Wesson M&P 40 .177 Caliber BB Gun Air Pistol |
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Check Price |
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Crosman CCP8B2 Vigilante CO2-Powered .177-Caliber Pellet and BB Revolver |
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Check Price |
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DPMS Full Auto SBR CO2-Powered BB Air Rifle |
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Check Price |
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Crosman Legacy 1000 Single Shot, Variable Pump Air Rifle |
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Check Price |
Best Picks of BB Guns
If you want the best BB gun for the money , filter your list using these products below. These are the best ones you can use either for recreational purposes or for tending your land and eliminating unwanted creatures off your backyard.
Make sure you set your budget and see if the features you read below are ones you won’t be needing so you’ll be saving yourself some money.
Daisy Outdoor Products Model 1938 Red Ryder BB Gun
Most of the best BB gun rifle reviews you read online will include the simple-to-use 1938 Red Ryder created masterfully by Daisy Outdoor Products.
Hitting your target requires dependable design and a solid, spring air and lever-cocking power, and fortunately these are features to find from the Red Ryder1938.
At a .177 caliber, this is a starter kit that’s compatible with most of the major pellets out there, so you can easily find ammunition.
What’s also extra nice about this one is that it offers a solid wood body, complemented with a lariat ring as well as thong that’s made of leather. This could just be aesthetics, but the comfort it gives you should also be a plus.
I recommend this gun to you if you’re looking for a BB gun that can shoot at least 195 yards without a hitch. This may even be the best BB gun to kill squirrels, in my opinion.
- Robust body design that gives maximum durability
- Lever cocking and spring air action for a familiar shooting experience
- .177 caliber, which is easy to find ammunition for
- Has bore steel designed to be smooth and rigid-free
- Has 195 yards shooting distance that gives it extra edge for long range shooting
- The smooth bore barrel steel gives maximum buffer for durability issues
- You can use this for better long-range hits
- Lightweight but not compromising quality
- There’s an added safety blocking mechanism for preventing accidents
- Aesthetic wise, you get an elegant stained wood finish with this one
- May be inferior to the previous model releases of this series
- Red Ryder BB gun reviews can agree that its velocity reach needs improvement
Umarex Glock 17 Blowback .177 Caliber BB Gun Air Pistol
It may have taken forever for Umarex to get an official license to clone the real Glock, but with the way this Glock 17 Blowback looks, it’s well worth the wait.
Top-notch and incredibly realistic, the semi-automatic Glock 17 can arm you with 18 rounds per magazine without compromising its robust blowback action. You get a complete mirror image of the actual Glock 17’s config, control and “T-styling”.
Even down to the grip’s markings, the rail and safety trigger, it’s 100% complete match. It’s made of a metal slide with a polymer frame, so you can improve your skills better and quicker when you’re training for accuracy with this one.
You’re using a single-type 12-gram CO2 cartridge with this one, and if you already have an actual holster for your Glock, this already fits it like a glove.
If you’re looking for an excellently made replica of the Glock both in quality and design, then this is definitely a good recommendation.
- Quite as close to the real Glock G17 handgun, as you can get
- The specs and the reality of the FPS and other features are a close match
- Has a metal slide and crisp, smooth blowback effect
- There’s a discreet safety system function
- You get additional accessory rail under its barrel
- When you want to practice your shooting drill, this one has a 1:1 match scale to the actual Glock
- Additional accessory is a tactical plus
- You get the magazine with a drop-free, full-sized design
- You can achieve an accurate BB gun blowback effect at its 365 FPS
- The sliding sound can be a bit clunky
- Blowback action needs improvement as it consumed CO2 faster
Ruger Blackhawk Combo Air Rifle
Most of the BB rifle reviews online will agree that in terms of consistency, cocking and trigger effort, you may get the maximum value you want in your rifle with the Blackhawk rifle by Ruger.
For starters, this model has a single-shot, breakbarrel and spring-piston design. Among all the configs, beginners will have better chances of learning quickly using this type.
The 4TH scope-mount combo accessory that this comes with also makes it ideal for dispatching whatever vermin nears your backyard. Its 4X magnification also gives you more range.
I recommend this if the air rifle you’re looking for is both reliable in close and far-range distances. This has an added 29′ field of view, extending your scope to about 100 yards.
You should take note, though, that you can experience piston seal tears with this one at just using it for less than 500 shots. But that’s a minor drawback compared its other features, such as fogproof, waterproof and shockproof body.
- You can use this optimally both in close and far range
- Added scope features give you more leverage in distance shooting
- Fogproof, shockproof and waterproof body
- Has 1000 fps velocity for extreme reach
- Barrel length grips an average shoulder length quite well
- Lens has multiple coatings
- Automatic safety mechanism for maximum protection
- Fiber Optic rear sights to get you extra leverage in distance shooting
- The rail has mm dovetail for extra support
- Two-stage options for adjusting the trigger, for extra options
- Its features may be similar to the ones you can get an inferior price
- Quality of metal may be a step down to your taste
Crosman M-177 Pneumatic Pump .177 Air Rifle
The M-177 from Crosman fits in the criteria of the best BB gun for squirrels right now mainly for its reservoir capacity of about 350 BBs. The more load you have, the more chances of knocking down squirrels.
Another good reason is that this one is made by Crosman, a company already established to be a reliable maker of air rifles. It made its own replica, and so it’s by far the best replica of an actual M4 firearm you can get.
It’s an extra plus that you can pretty much just use any standard pellets or BBs with this one. And since this has a multi-pump action system, you can pump up to as many as 10 times for higher velocity reach.
If what you’re looking for is an adaptability to the AR platform with a long-lasting rifled steel barrel, then this is the air rifle to pick.
- It’s got a 1:1 ratio match to an actual M4, perfect for military training
- Has a pump action system with no battery required
- This comes with bolt-action for added support
- Dual ammunition system for easy reloading and continuous shoots
- Removable sights so you can add make it more lightweight and distraction-free
- Close similarity to an actual M4 rifle
- Its multi-pump design gets you higher velocities
- Maximum compatibility since you can use BB or pellets with this one
- Large reservoir capacity of 350 BBs
- Not ideal to shoot in water since it’s got steel BBs and so it will ricochet
- Too close to an actual firearm so you may be mistaken to armed by authorities
- Only 1 year warranty, and limited
Smith & Wesson M&P 40 .177 Caliber BB Gun Air Pistol
While this can be the best BB gun for everyone to have some double-action plinking fun with friends, the M&P 40 by Smith and Wesson is military-grade enough for pistol training for those who already own S&W M&P firearms.
The first of this air pistol’s many strengths is that it is made by the same maker of the actual S&W live-fire pistol it is replicating. It even has a 19-shot drop-out BB magazine installed for an added realistic effect.
The second value-added feature of this air pistol is its BB repeater. Powered by a CO2 cylinder at 12g, which is hidden near its grip and rear fiber optic sights, this pistol will hit more acc.
You can also pretty much add whatever accessory you can think of with this one. Thanks to the integrated rail underneath its muzzle, you can add some tactical flashlight in there for maximum visibility.
An air gun laser will also do you good when training for night-time shooting, and that’s also something you can add in its muzzle.
- There’s a high-level of realism because of the 19-shot dropout design in its BB magazine
- Manual safety added so you can be more assured of protection
- There’s a lifelike similarity to an actual firearm for military or police training
- Has a semi-automatic base
- There’s a synthetic black coating in the frame for rust-free base
- Its fixed-rear sights gives more range in distance shooting
- Industry-grade base is rust-free
- Lifelike resemblance to a real firearm
- Grip backstops come in alternate sizes for more options
- The removable magazine is a 19-shot BB, so more shots before reloading
- May be too lifelike so you will be mistaken that you’re armed
Crosman CCP8B2 Vigilante CO2-Powered .177-Caliber Pellet and BB Revolver
If you’re looking for a powerful semi auto BB gun, you’d be in for a treat if you consider what the double-action Crosman Vigilante can bring to the table.
Other than arguably being the best cheap BB gun in the market, what makes this a great choice is its finely-balanced CO2 component and its ability to shoot both BBs and pellets.
Its 10-shot pellet clip also gives you more ammunition power and a more accurate feel of the real firearm.
You can shoot as much as 435 fps with this one when using pellets, and 465 fps when using BBs through the rifled steel barrel it has that measures to about 6 inches.
The full metal frame you get with this may be one of the most accurate replica in the market to the real rifle. Add to that is the fact that its dual accessory rails can fit picatinny, an air gun laser, a flashlight or even weaver mounts for added plinking fun.
- Has a good balance between size and mass to maximize compactness
- Has modification that allows it to be called a CO2 gun
- Feels like an actual, professional firearm
- Has a tactical rail system that gives it a 1:1 ratio match to the real version
- Refined aesthetics that blend in tactical settings
- Contains a combo of dual ammunition and CO2 component
- Resembles a legitimate live-ammo pistol
- Only weighs 2 pounds
- Has a revolver mechanism for smoother hits
- Its textured grip makes for more accurate hits
- Both front and back sight are adjustable
- Can cause BBs to ricochet in some scenarios and cause accidents
- May require safety googles to maximize its use
DPMS Full Auto SBR CO2-Powered BB Air Rifle
Whether you’re looking for the best BB gun in the world or you’re just curious of what’s popular right now in the market, you’d be missing a lot if you don’t consider the DPMS SBR created by Crosman
I recommend this to you if you want to ride the wave of the popularity of AR rifles today. SBR, by the way, stands for short-barreled rifle, and the DPMS Full-auto may be the most excellent example of this.
With its realistic disassembly feel and an AR compatibility in its pistol grip, it’s no surprise why reviewers call this a great gun for the money. You will also get a quad-rail forearm rails for this one for mounting your favorite accessories.
Other inclusions in this rifle would be its railed hand guard and adjustable 6-position butt design in its stock that gives you more support when doing an angled fore grip.
- 25-round magazine design for maximum ammunition per clip
- CO2 blowback design for added powered action
- This comes with sights and a unique angled fore grip
- Its short-barreled rifle design is compact and lightweight
- Modded out to fit any added accessories you want
- You get maximum continuous shooting fun with its full-auto design
- No need for clip magazine back-ups
- Its adjustable make gives more options for small shooters to maximize its use
- You only get one magazine with this one
- Can be too lifelike that authorities will think you’re carrying illegal firearms
Crosman Legacy 1000 Single Shot, Variable Pump Air Rifle
The Crosman Legacy is one of the best BB gun for self defense today because of its long-range, high level of FPS so you can hit the target from afar.
The primary reasons why many are taken to this rifle is its 1000 FPS of velocity, its rifled steel barrel and the front sight that’s made of fiber optic. Such features equip you with the most advanced level of variable pump air power that your money can get.
There’s an added safety glasses and a 4x15mm scope that comes with this, so if you’re still a beginner, get your long-shot training basics with this air rifle.
Aesthetics-wise, this has a sleek black coating that lets you pump it up for about 12 times before deliving full-force power. Alloy pellets can be shot at 1,000 FPS, but lead pellets will reach to about 750 FPS, while if you’re using BBs, you reach an impressive 800 FPS.
If you want something long-range but don’t want the extra bulk, this one is only about under five pounds, with its sights already included, which are made of fiber optic.
- This has some of the highest velocity shooting reach in the market
- Has a crossbolt safety protection system so training with this is extra safe
- Added safety glasses and fiber optic sights will make this ideal for beginners
- It’s a variable pump kind of air rifle so its level of power is enhanced
- High FPS power and can shoot BBs, alloy pellets and lead pellets
- Great rifle to use your pellets with at this level of price
- Makes for an ideal training rifle for professional shooting
- 4X15mm Scope gives you added opportunity to train for accuracy
- May appear to be of inferior build to its previous Classic 2100 version
What is the Best BB Gun?
The right, powerful BB gun has to have the perfect balance between velocity, range, build and compactness. Go for the BB gun that fits what kind of shooting you need.
If you’re going for long-range, the best BB gun you could get may be the ones made by Crosman.
If it’s the best youth BB gun you are looking for, then go for something that’s given positive reviews for its sights and grip. Young ones still are in need of accuracy training.
You should also make sure that the BB gun you choose is made of the most robust, durable material that withstands tough weather conditions.
Things to Consider Before Buying BB Guns
Before you purchase the real looking BB guns made available online, there are many factors to consider first to maximize the value you get from your investment. Here are some of those factors:
Metal or Plastic
There are two major types of BB gun in terms of build: there are those that are made by what is called ABS plastic, and there are those that are made of metal.
The best BB gun for beginners may be the ones made of ABS plastic because they’re durable but cannot be easily dented. The metal ones are ideal for those who want to get the most lifelike BB gun they have that resembles the real thing.
Don’t underestimate a plastic gun, though. A good ABS plastic is higly durable and if it’s made by a reliable company from, say, Taiwan, it’s more longlasting than a metal build.
Two Tone or Black Guns
There are laws that will make it hard for you to own a real black gun. The law may even prohibit you from purchasing one if you don’t have what is called an UKARA membership.
If you’re not part of a film crew or you’re just purchasing for fun, then you’d have no choice but to pick a two-tone color gun as your best BB gun for hunting.
Spring-powered Feature
Another factor to consider is whether your BB gun pistol is made of spring-powered component. The best starter BB gun for you could be a spring-powered pistol.
The main reason for that is that it’s frankly the cheapest one you may be able to get. They’re also lightweight, and so beginners can train better.
Gas Non-Blowback
This one is the second type of handheld BB guns in the market. They’re generally designed to be more powerful than the spring-powered ones since they require gas power to propel its bullets.
An added advantage with this one is that refuelling your gun’s ammunition is less cheaper than a blowback type. They’re powered by CO2 capsules, and many of the high quality BB guns you can get today are made of this type.
Electric Pistols
The electric pistols are made more popular in the UK, and they’re preferred by most because unlike gas blowbacks, they’re not affected by cold weather or changes in temperature. Go for this if you live in colder climates.
Different Types of BB Guns
Some of the types of the best BB gun under 50 that you can get today are either made of compressed gas and pneumatic types.
Compressed Type
The compressed gas or CO2 type are awesome BB guns because you hit the pellets with the help of a compressed gas. You replace the spring-action power or a propellant fuel, so you have more ballistic power.
PCP (Precharged Pneumatics) Type
You’re tapping outside air resource with this type of air gun to reach a high-pressure air gun power. The ability to convey ammo sourcing from a heavier and bigger caliber air gun is its added edge.
Compared to a compressed gass type that uses Powerlet cartridges, the pneumatic ones may be inferior in terms of continuous, rapid firing criteria.
So if you’re aiming for rapid-fire in your hits, then the coolest BB gun for you would probably be the one made of compressed gas.
Break-barrel
Commonly called a break-action guy, it uses a barrel to squeeze a sort of steel spring from the air gun. This is deal for hunting since you don’t require any air pump power or CO2 cartridges that can be costly.
Either for hunting or competition, break-barrel types are reliable, and they’re just as fun to use for backyard shooting to take out bottles as your targets to while away your time.
Variable Pump
This air gun type made specially for newbies and teens is good for plinking since you get more amplified power in each stroke you render, giving you more shots. This is also good for target practice.
Different Between Different Type Guns
One way of finding the best full auto BB gun for you today is to first understand the differences between the type of guns. Read below to learn more:
Pellet vs BB Gun
The first difference between the two would be the type of magazine used. Pellets will use a rotary type of magazine, while the BB pistols will be using a stacked ammo type of magazine.
It goes without saying that the BB pellets will have a higher capacity than the pellet type of magazine.
Airsoft Gun vs BB Gun
The main difference between the two is mainly the type of ammunition used. For BB guns, they use in their firing small metals or lead BBs.
This means that they can be as deadly as can be, especially if being paired with a powerful gun. Airsoft is much lighter, using only a plastic projectile, which hurts but is less deadly.
Real Gun vs BB Gun
While BB gun can be deadly, it doesn’t operate like a real gun. A real gun will exert too much power when a BB pellet is used and will explode when the pistol is triggered, causing significant damage to the shooter.
Real guns use gunpowder to propel bullets, which can kill. BB guns rarely can kill, but they do.
Slingshot vs BB gun
While a slingshot can shoot BB pellets, a BB gun is more powerful because the bullets are propelled generally by compressed gas. You only fire slingshots using your hands, and so the damage is limited.
You can use a lot of variety of pellets for your slingshots, even ball bearings. But BB guns require an exact pellet match for it to work.
Advantages Of Owning A BB Gun
Investing with a good, reliable and high-FPS BB gun can have its unique advantages and here are some of them.
Affordability
If you’re still running low on funds to buy the real deal, then owning a BB gun or air rifle is the next best thing. Since it’s affordable and, depending on the brand, offers pretty much the same feeling of the real thing, a budget-friendly BB gun will go a long way in areas that a real firearm is limited to do.
This means that you can just buy a BB gun alternative first to learn how to use the firearm and improve your accuracy and FPS score before transitioning to a real firearm.
User-friendly for Competition
Those shooters who want to engage in professional competition may use these BB guns as the best alternative during an actual tournament.
They’re cost-effective since you can overuse it and if they get damaged or their steel barrel get dented, replacing them is not as expensive as repairing a real firearm.
Military Training
When soldiers train with real firearms, they may have limitations that are not found when using the BB gun alternatives. This means that soldiers can learn more inventive, experimental self-defense methods with these BB guns minus the added risks and threats thar are present in the real firearms.
Protecting Livestock
It might be an overkill to use real rifles with real ammunition to tend a farmer’s land and livestock from unwanted creatures and vermin. So landowners and farmers can get a budget-friendly alternative to keeping their livestock farm free from pests.
Tips For Using And Maintaining BB Guns
Storage
The first thing to remember to maintain and use your BB guns properly is storage. Make sure you put your guns in a cool, dry place free from humidity and changes or sudden fluctuations in the weather.
Make sure that the storage area is safe from the hands of any child or teenager in your household. Getting a separate storage house outside your home would be ideal.
Your storage area must also be protected from rain or whatever type of water intrusion. The last thing you want is to get your BB guns rusty and unusable because you forgot to protect it from a lightning storm.
Oiling
The pistol seals of compressed-gas powered BB guns need reoiling. So don’t forget putting a drop of some silicone chamber oil to the BB gun once every 6 months.
Don’t use household oil or the regular silicone type of oils you find online. These homemade oils are not able to withstand the heat issue needed for your BB gun to fire up.
To oil the gun, simply cock the rifle without closing the barrel. Find the flat of its spring tube, and when you find the air transfer port, which is a smal hole at the rear end of the barrel, drop the oil there.
Barrel Cleaning
One thing to remember about cleaning barrels of BB guns: you don’t have to. There’s no gunpowder residue here, so it’s totally unnecessary.
This applies when using lead pellets, since these won’t leave any dust or grime to your BB gun as well.
Cleaning The Outside
It may not look like the exterior of a BB gun matters, but it does. Cleaning the grime off them gives your gun an extra advantage of avoiding rust and residue that affects BB gun accuracy.
An added coating or protection to the exterior using an oil, such as a Ballistol, will also lengthen your BB gun’s lifespan.
How To Load A BB Gun?
The first thing to remember in loading a BB gun is to look for the red ring in the safety button. If you can’t see it then the safety is off.
What you want to do first is for the safety to be on. Next, go find the hatch that’s located near the end of the barrel, with an arrow at its other end.
The next step is you need to push it inward before sliding it up in order to open it. When opened, you may now load some BBs inside the opening before sliding it shut.
This is now the part where you need to cock the gun. To make sure that it’s fully cocked, wait for it to make a single but distinctly metallic sound.
You may now take aim, making sure you aim your target using the sight first before pressing the trigger.
How To Shoot A BB Gun?
The first step to shooting a BB gun is to ensure you follow safety standards first. You cannot underestimate the shooting power of a BB gun; it can even knock your eyes out useless.
The next step is to make sure you don’t check the rifle from the barrel’s end to see if it’s loaded.
To shoot the BB gun, you need to cock it first. Cocking requires you to point it in a safe direction and then working the lever down to your direction.
This requires just a minimal amount of strength, so no need to worry about getting someone’s assistance for this. Always assume that your BB gun is loaded when aiming it at a target.
Top BB Gun Brands
Some of the top-rated brands or products of BB guns these days are the following:
- Umarex
- Gamo
- Crosman
These makers have long been around in the industry and gathered a loyal following already.
These are some of the brands today that can maximize value for money, from best price guarantee to features that are best for both plinking entertainment or military training.
Umarex
One of the strongest models released by Umarex is the Steel Force Air Rifle. It is one of the best CO2 powered rifles in the market and one of the few that are built with a collapsible stock.
Gamo
Gamo’s a Spanish manufacturer of air rifles and pistols, and offers you value for money because of the added features it includes in its rifles.
Crosman
One famous item from Crosman is the Vigilante CO2 pistol. This is an ideal pistol for target shooting, and may not be the best one to use for pest control, competition or even small game hunting.
Who Makes The Best BB Gun?
Umarex is arguably the best maker of BB guns in the market. One of its best pistols that reviewers seem to rave about is the Umarex Glock.
It’s a remarkable piece of replica of the Glock at its .177 caliber and 18-shot of clip config. It’s so accurate to the real Glock that you can even fit this one in most of the aftermarket Glock duty holsters already. Style and substance is what this one is about.
Final Verdicts
I choose the Glock 17 Blockback made by Umarex as my clear winner.
Unlike the air rifle replica from Ruger and pistols from other brands, this is the only BB gun that was given official certification by the third-party gun maker for having a 1:1 match ratio to the actual firearm it’s replicating.
This is a clear advantage in specific cases like firearm training that requires you to practice with a gun that looks closest to the real one.
The Blockback also has a reliable but discreet safety function and an additional accessory rail right from under its barrel, which are a must-have features for practically all lists of best BB guns .
Frequently Asked Questions
How old do you have to be to buy a BB gun?
18 years old, depending on the state. BB guns, whether spring piston or a compressed gas, can harm, and so you have to make sure you’re old enough to take responsibility when it does.
How Far Can a BB Gun Shoot?
A BB gun can shoot as far as 190 yards, depnding on the gun that you bought. Either way, buy BB guns if you want to practice or improve your long-distance range shooting
What are the uses of BB guns?
You can use BB guns for target shooting or eliminating unwanted pesky vermin and intruders in your property.
Can a BB gun kill?
Rarely. BB guns are powered by compressed gas, and will release intense damage, and if the gun is made of powerful metal, then it may lethally harm someone.
Will it be expensive to buy a BB gun?
They are cheap and expensive BB guns, depending on the specs, features and added components that you pick.
The important thing to remember when picking an expensive BB gun is the range, velocity and ballistic coefficienct.