Backyard Plinking: These Air Pistols Are Cooler Than Ever

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If you’re a shooter there’s a good chance you grew up with an air pistol or two, and theres nothing more economical and fun for the back yard. If you think you’ve outgrown them, you might want to take a look at these. Today there are incredibly cool and realistic air pistols that are true to feel and function. They can be useful training and instruction tools, or simply pure indulgent fun.

One of the most realistic air pistols is undoubtedly the CZ Shadow 2 from American Sport Games. It’s a full-metal, full-weight pistol that mimics the real CZ Shadow 2 down to the tiniest external detail. The magazine is weighted and holds a single CO2 cartridge, as well as a spring-loaded stack of BBs. When loaded into the gun, the slide is cycled to cock, and the gun is fired as you would a real Shadow 2 or CZ 75. Along with good velocity, a portion of the CO2 is directed to cycle the slide with a realistic blowback action. It’s not as stout as 9mm, but it gives the pistol an even more realistic feel. Another cool feature of the CZ Shadow 2 BB pistol is its hop-up system. The hop-up system puts backspin on the BBs, which gives them a flatter trajectory.

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Pros

• Nearly identical to real Sig P365
• Great training tool
• Blowback cycling
• Safety lever

Cons

• Trigger is much different than real P365
• Not very accurate

One of Sig Sauer’s coolest replica BB pistols is the P365. The real P365 is an excellent EDC option and an air pistol like this can be used for at-home training. It generally follows the manual of arms of many other semi-auto BB pistols. The removable magazine holds the CO2 and 20 BBs. The gun is loaded, cocked, and fired just like the real thing. This P365 BB gun will fit in many Sig P365 holsters, and mimics the version of the pistol with a manual safety. It wasn’t particularly accurate, but for EDC training or a shooter with smaller hands, it is an effective and affordable tool.

This BB gun is a wonderful copy of the legendary revolver carried by Jesse James and his gang. It’s got non-adjustable sights, and the rear sight locks the frame closed. Just like the real Schofield, when it’s pulled back, the barrel and cylinder tip forward, and the cylinder even has a realistic ejector. This air pistol uses brass-colored steel cartridges with rubber fronts, which each hold a single BB. Cartridges are loaded into the cylinder and fired via the CO2 canister in the grip.

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Pros

• Realistic weight and function
• Blowback action
• Accurate
• Great value

Among a crowd of high-quality, truly awesome replica BB guns on the market, there probably isn’t a better value than the P08 Luger from Umarex. This copy of the iconic German pistol is hefty, well-made, and cycles like a real Luger does. The removable magazine houses both the CO2 cartridge and a spring-loaded stack of 21 BBs. When inserted, the shooter pulls back on the round cocking tabs, releases, and it’s ready to go. The bolt will cycle back, and the linkages will rotate up and return down with each shot — just like the real thing.

This Luger BB gun has a realistic safety switch on the rear left, and it’s easily activated by the thumb. Other true-to-form details include false rifling around the .177 barrel that’s set back. It even has a small rail at the butt of the grip where a butt stock could be attached — a characteristic of some of the authentic P08 Lugers.

If you love the 1911, there are few more realistic air pistols than the Springfield Mil Spec models. They are available in black and stainless finishes, and are true to weight and feel. They use a single C02 canister in the grip, and have real cycling action. When empty, the slide even locks open. This pistol is so much fun and perfect for a low-cost backyard trainer. It fits in most 1911 holsters too.