Best Pellet Pistol: A Guide For Beginners 2023

Choosing a pellet pistol can be complicated at first, but that’s why I am putting together this list, highlighting everything the best pellet pistol should have; from effortless control to accuracy, solid material build, velocity, and ease of use.

Depending on what you need one for; I have carefully selected 13 of the best pellet pistols on the market for all range of users from entry-level, intermediate to expert handlers.

Are you ready to own a pellet pistol? This list of pellet pistol reviews covers just about anything you need a pellet pistol for. Talking about exterminating pests, competitive shooting with your pals, or just something for target practice with empty cans at your disposal.

Best Pellet Pistol for Your Target Practice

You have been waiting for this, so let’s quickly take a look at the 13 best pellet pistol reviews. Here, you will learn everything you need to make a better choice of a pellet pistol from a power source to ammo type, caliber, and more.

1. Daisy Powerline 415 Air Pistol

Is casual pistol shooting your pastime? Then you should consider getting your hands on the Daisy Powerline 415.

This handgun fires 21 BBs as fast as you can pull the trigger before reloading. The kit comes with a 21-shot semiautomatic and CO2-powered BB repeater along with shooting glasses. The kit also includes 3 CO2 cylinders and 350 ct. BB tube.

All you need to do is load up 15 BBs into the inbuilt magazine and then insert a CO2 cartridge straight into the group. And you are set for semiautomatic small-arm shooting fun.

It is the perfect choice for beginners looking to learn more about handguns.

Pros

• Fiber optic front sight
• Fun to shoot
• Manual trigger block safety
• Excellent for teaching beginners handgun shooting, especially in terms of gripping and shooting a sidearm
• High velocity (500 feet per second)
• Accurate
• An excellent choice for pest control

Cons

• Construction feels cheap
• Changing the CO2 tank is somewhat awkward

2. Crosman CCP8B2 Vigilante

This firearm is a replica style, classic Vigilante design, and comes with two firing methods: double-action and single-action shooting. So, you should expect a very light trigger action when in single-action mode or a perceptibly heavier one when in double-action mode.

The Crosman CCP8B2 Vigilante is one of the best CO2 pistols on the market today. The firearm comes with a 6-round 4.5mm rotary BB clip and a 10-round, .177 caliber rotary pellet clip.

It delivers a velocity of up to 435 feet per second and can be employed efficiently for short-range vermin control.

Pros

• Fires BBs and pellets
• Not expensive
• Acceptable for short-range vermin control
• Single/Double action
• Come with Weaver and tactical rails

Cons

• Accuracy is not the best
• Not a good replica
• The plastic grip appears somewhat loose

3. Umarex Air Pistol XBG .177 Caliber

If you are looking for more trigger time, no other sidearm does it better than the Umarex XBG .177 Caliber BB Gun Air Pistol.

The lightweight XBG is equipped with a 19-shot drop-free metal magazine for swift reloading. And it is powered exclusively by a single 12g CO2 capsule.

The compact BB pistol has fixed notch sights, fixed front, and rear posts and also shoots in double action at 410 feet per second.

Key features

• Under-muzzle Picatinny Rail
• Shoots regular steel BBs

Pros

• Inexpensive
• Comes with rails for adding accessories
• Tried-and-true design
• Excellent combination of shots per fps and CO2
• Construction screws are smaller
• CO2 tabs are relatively well-hidden
• Universal metal stick magazine works for a wide variety of handguns

Cons

• Double-action triggers are somewhat heavy and long
• Mostly constructed of plastic
• Lacks adjustable sights

4. Gamo 611138254 PT-85 Blowback Pellet Pistol

The PT-Blowback Pellet Pistol has the design of a genuine firearm or weapon, thanks to its Blowback feature and durable plastic structure that can fool any newbie that is not too familiar with air pistols. The sidearm is lightweight at exactly 1.5 lbs; it doesn’t require cocking.

The Gamo PT-85 uses tiny bits of air to move back the top slide when you shoot with it. The pistol ejects pellets at high speeds of 450 feet per second. The rifled barrel of the firearm is for added accuracy while its textured grip significantly reduces slippage.

Pros

• Excellent weight, well-made firearm
• Recessed barrel for more sophistry
• Heavy Blowback action
• Respectable power and accuracy
• Tabs are well designed and CO2 is covered
• Features a lower barrel
• Internal areas, slide, trigger, hammer made of metal
• Overall great appearance
• Durable and built with sufficient metallic materials

Cons

• Low shots per CO2
• Non-adjustable sights
• Velocities decline following several rounds
• No slide catch release

5. Beeman P17 Deluxe Sportsman Series Air Pistol

The Beeman P17 Deluxe Pellet Pistol is a well-known handgun with superior accuracy and velocity with a single pump.

It is a German-engineered firearm with a single stroke pneumatic over-cocking design that produces pellets at 410 feet per second. The gun is entirely recoilless and no CO2 is required at all.

The polymer frame of the Beeman P17 Deluxe pistol is lightweight and highly durable as it also comes with a rifled steel barrel and cast aluminum slide. All these combined provide repeatable accuracy and extended lifespan.

The firearm also includes rear sights and manual safety which are adjustable for both windage and elevation.

Pros

• Lightweight and easy to handle
• Safety kicks in after each pump
• Single pump super easy and does not require much strength
• Fiber optic sights work exceptionally well
• Easy to load
• Impressively accurate shot
• Very affordable

Cons

• Firearm produces a highly disruptive lout crack when fired

6. Crosman American Classic Pneumatic Pellet Pistol

The Crosman American Classic Multi-Pump Pneumatic Pellet Air Pistol is a single-shot, bolt action pellet firearm that is powerful and incredibly accurate.

The power of this sidearm, when combined with its rifled steel barrel, makes it a plinker’s dream come true.

This .22-caliber pneumatic American Classic firearm has a very sleek, modern design and features a single-shot bolt action for easier loading and cocking.

Its rifled steel barrel enhances accuracy and ejects pellets at 460 feet per second. The cross-bolt safety of this pistol ensures proper and safe handling.

And staying on target is a breeze with the Crosman American’s adjustable rear sight and fixed-blade front sight.

Pros

• Fixed blade front sight and fully adjustable rear sight
• Features a single shot bolt action for easier loading and cocking
• Rifled steel barrel for topnotch accuracy
• Established multi-pump design
• Incredibly affordable
• Variable power
• Ideal for skill development training

Cons

• Manual pumping is required

7. Sig Sauer M17 CO2 Air Pistol

This is a firearm that is modeled after the US Army’s M17 semiautomatic pistol. The gun is engineered from the tan replica and may, therefore, not be considered a true replica.

The design is, however, intended to model the feel and heft of the firearm and includes very realistic blowback action for this particular purpose.

The Sig Sauer M17 CO2 Air Pistol comes with a CO2 cartridge that eliminates the need to cock it between shots. Its 20-round magazine is splendid for rapid-fire plinking.

The magazine of this otherwise remarkable sidearm has a defect or two: it sits somewhat poorly, right at the top of the magazine, and will require the user to slap it into place. It also causes frequent jams due to its inability to feed consistently.

Pros

• Perfectly modeled after the US Army’s M17
• 20-round magazine
• Great front and rear sights
• Fun backyard plinking
• Its heavyweight draws the feel of a real firearm
• An excellent choice for training

Cons

• Jams frequently
• The magazine sits poorly in the mag well

8. Crosman Semi-Auto Air Pistol

The Crosman Semi-Auto Air Pistol is powered by CO2 and combines quality components with hand-held comfort, all at a very pocket-friendly or wallet-friendly price.

The firearm fires BBs at an astonishing velocity of 480 feet per second. It also has an accessory rail right under the barrel.

The Crosman Semi-Auto Air Pistol also features grips that slide back smoothly and easily for quick replacement of CO2 Powerlets, as well as a removable magazine for BBs.

Pros

• Convenient and highly accurate
• Constructed using the highest quality components
• CO2 powered
• Light and handy
• Accessory rail underneath the barrel
• Perfect choice for target shooting: barrel made of steel and other parts made of durable plastic materials

Cons

• Performance may vary with temperature

9. Winchester Model 11K CO2 Pistol Kit

The Winchester Model 11K CO2 Pistol Kit is everything you will require to start your air pistol shooting journey on the right foot.

The quality pistol build is nothing short of amazing and is manufactured at the highest quality that Winchester, a renowned firearms brand, sets for all its firearm products.

It may not be as powerful as other weapons from the stable of the brand, but it will do more than expected at that price point.

The kit comes in a highly durable, hard-shell case with enough foam inserts for additional content protection. You will get a 750-count tin of high-quality Winchester BBs as well as two 12-gram CO2 along with the air pistol itself.

Pros

• Capacity of 16-shots
• Reasonably priced despite the inclusion of a kit
• One of the best and remarkable blowback air pistol models for training
• Includes BBs and CO2 tanks

Cons

• Not creatively designed for plastic pellet use
• You will feel the somewhat high recoil

10. Smith & Wesson M&P 40 .177 Caliber BB Air Pistol

The Smith & Wesson M&P 40 .177 Caliber BB Gun Air Pistol is an excellent physical replica of the M&P firearm manufactured by Smith & Wesson. It even fits the same holsters made for real handguns, thereby making them a choice option as a practice gun.

This accurate to standard BB-firing firearm will have you shooting all your targets with both double and triple taps.

The Smith & Wesson M&P 40 .177 Caliber BB Gun Air Pistol propels BBs at 480 feet per second. And its white dot front sight and fiber optic rear sight make it a remarkable piece to own.

Pros

• Easy to use
• Incredibly high fps (up to 480 feet per second) by today’s standards
• Lightweight
• Adjustable front sight and fixed rear sights
• Magazines are interchangeable with several Umarex BB pistols
• Extremely accurate
• Drop –out mag holds up to 19 BBs and CO2 cartridge
• Impressive sights

Cons

• BBs come out of the mag in the gun
• Occasional misfire

11. Umarex Glock 17 Blowback .177 Caliber Air Pistol

The venerable G17 is the first firearm that Gaston Glock brought to the market. And revisions have been made over the years which have birthed the favorite Gen 3.

The Glock 17 Blowback .177 Caliber BB Gun Air Pistol is a favorite among beginners. It is powered by an affordable 12-gram CO2, and this makes it the right choice for holster drills, target practice, or backyard plinking. It is a product that is officially licensed by Glock.

Pros

• Polymer body has a textured grip
• Safety built cleverly into the serial number plate area which keeps it well hidden
• Equipped with latch safety and trigger safety
• Tactical accessory rail positioned under the barrel
• Metal slide with distinct blowback action
• Full-sized drop-free metal magazine

Cons

• Non –adjustable sights
• Slide sound is somewhat clanky
• Blowback action eats faster through CO2

12. GLOCK 19 Gen3 .177 Caliber BB Gun Air Pistol

The GLOCK 19 Gen3 .177 Caliber Air Pistol is perfect for use in versatile roles as a result of cleverly reduced dimensions; especially when it is compared with the standard or regular option.

The firearm is handy and compact; it unmistakable look can make the gun pass as the original. And it also packs plenty of power for its size.

The GLOCK 19 Gen3 .177 Caliber Air Pistol shoots 1.77 caliber steel BBs at an incredibly high velocity of 410 feet per second. It has a metal slide and its trigger safety is just perfect.

Pros

• Working trigger safety
• 410 feet per second is strong and nice
• Fully Glock licensed
• Recessed barrel for extra realism
• Warning instruction are discreet and nicely hidden under the trigger guard
• Presently the only Glock firearm licensed 4.5mm steel BB pistol
• Easy-to-see white dot sights both front and back

Cons

• The slide is fixed with no blowback action
• Comes with a stick magazine instead of a full-size mag

13. Crosman Vigilante 357 CO2 Air Pistol Kit with Holster

The Crosman Vigilante 357 Co2 Air Pistol Kit with Holster and 3-Pack of Magazines has a semiautomatic, 10-shot air handgun with a classic revolver styling as well as finger-molded grip design. All these make the gun – which is powered by CO2 and available in both single- or double-action modes – ideal for shooting.

The kit also includes a holster, 6-round BB clip, and 1 extra BB clip along with 1 extra pellet clip.

Pros

• Inexpensive
• Excellent fps for a firearm powered by CO2
• Clip for repeated shots
• Nice trigger action
• Easy to loads
• Well-oiled gun right out of the box
• A rifled barrel that makes shooting with pellets incredibly accurate

Cons

• Seems somewhat loose between the barrel and the clip
• Plastic

Factors to Consider Before Buying a Pellet Pistol

There are several factors you should consider before purchasing a pellet pistol, and you probably already know this. For clarity, I’ll walk you through some of the factors.

Activity The Pellet Pistol Will Be Used for…

There are lots of pellet pistols available on the market today and as you can tell, they are all not made for the same activities.

Although, ‘plinking’ is something everyone with a pellet pistol can relate to, no matter the type of pistol you have. So, I will talk about a few uses of pellet pistol below.

Hunting: One growing choice for pellet pistol and related firearm owners is for use during hunting. Most are usually hunting down pesky pests and small games. The thing with using a pellet pistol for hunting is that these guns aren’t very powerful.

They have small operating distance and have limited velocity, lethargy, and energy transfer. Asides pests, and targets like small birds, rabbits, and squirrels, you should be sure you’re complying with state, local, and federal laws by hunting any other animal with your pellet pistol.

Target Shooting: Need a pellet gun for target shooting? You’re in luck, just grab your paper, pellet pistol, and backstop. You can have hours of non-stop shooting experience and fun with your buddies while at it.

Plinking: The term ‘plinking’ refers to the sound you’ll hear when shooting in a peculiar setting. For instance, short, metallic sounds like when you’re shooting in at old tin cans.

Many pellet pistol owners enjoy plinking and thankfully, the cost of pistols and their pellets are a little low, making this a fun activity on a budget.

Type of Pellets

You will also be left with the choice of the type of pellet to use on your pellet pistol, so you can choose the right pistol that will give you that result you’re craving for. There are several pellet types and calibers; however, the .22 and .177 are options most pellet users choose.

As a rule of thumb, if you want pellet calibers for competitive shooting or target practice, the .177 will fit the criteria as it accelerates well. If you’re looking for a more lethal option for hunting, the .22 is the favored pellet.

Other important things you should consider before purchasing your pellet pistol are:

Velocity

You want to consider the rate of dispense of the projectile from your pistol’s barrel. Take hunting, for instance, this singular knowledge will tell you the type of animal you can take down and the distance you need to get it done.

There’s also a safety perspective. Since most pellets will not travel with enough speed or have the material structure to effectively penetrate surfaces like tree trunks, they can bounce off such surface and hit the shooter or people around.

The rule of thumb is simple. The higher the velocity, the more distance you can shoot from and still expect unwavering accuracy. If you’re going for a pellet pistol, go for one that possesses enough velocity to hit targets at a far-reaching range.

Cheaper pellet pistols won’t have as much hitting distance as a more expensive option.

Power Source

Another thing to consider is the power source of your pellet pistol. Typically, you’d find that most pellet pistols available make use of either pneumatic air pressure or CO2. While there are other options available, these two are the most popular.

While you can’t exactly say one is better than the other without weighing their benefits and considering your options based on what you need a pellet pistol for, but averagely if you need a consistent firearm without trying too hard, CO2 powered pistols provides a preferable option as its easier with cartridges.

Their pneumatic air pressure variants are typically hand-driven making the need for pumping. You will need to fully understand their operation ability and give it more attention. As you would expect, these are cheaper than the CO2 powered options.

FAQs

Are air pistols (BB and Pellet) legal?

Air pistols are perfectly legal in most of the states in the United States of America. However, some states have different regulations or rules that users of air pistols must adhere to. They are:

• Chicago
• Washington DC
• New Jersey
• Philadelphia, PA
• New You and its boroughs

But then, even if you do not live in any of the states mentioned earlier where rules and regulations stipulate the use of air pistols, always look up the air gun laws in your state before you make a purchase. How does an air pistol work?

Air guns generally work the same way. CO2 or compressed air is used to propel or launch the BB or pellet out of the barrel. However, different designs work differently.

What is the difference between a pellet gun or a BB gun or an airsoft gun?

Pellet guns and BB guns make use of metal calibers when you fire them. This makes them incredibly powerful and even more potentially damaging and dangerous.

Most airsoft guns are designed to look like real weapons; however, an orange tip is generally required to differentiate them from real weapons. Moreover, airsoft guns utilize plastic projectiles.

Do air pistols make noise?

Yes, air pistols make noise when you fire them. In most cases, CO2 guns are not extraordinarily loud when shooting. The only issue maybe if you live in an apartment with very thin walls.

If that is the case, you may have to go for any of the weaker air pistols that have less power, which equates to less noise. A spring-powered air pistol, for instance, will be quieter for an apartment with thin walls.

Does a high-velocity BB gun correspond to excellent accuracy for long-range shooting?

Experts consider this a myth. All BB guns are typically designed differently as different manufacturers create them. These manufacturers vary their respective standards as well as the attention and accuracy of the BB firearm.

Any BB gun that shoots at a velocity of approximately 350 feet per second will enable you to target shoot at distances between 500-1000 feet.

Will a pellet pistol stop an intruder?

Yes, a pellet pistol has enough force to stop an intruder as research has shown that it has a 92 percent chance of scaring off intruders or attackers. This is because most pellet guns look very realistic.

It is, however, recommended by experts that you use air guns only against unarmed attackers.

What are pellet and BB guns used for?

Pellet and BB guns are generally used for the following activities:

• Target shooting
• Plinking (shooting targets and cans)
• Pest control
• Hunting (powerful air rifles)
• Firearms handling and training
• Self-defense
• Home defense (against unarmed intruders or attackers only)

Are air pistols dangerous or powerful enough to kill?

It depends on the air gun in question. If you fire an air pistol with a .177 caliber pellet at more than 500 feet per second, you may shoot someone’s eye out. Shots to the feet or hands can break your small bones or cause severe nerve damage.

Freak accidents may also occur, such as a hit that goes through the eye and right into the brain or one that severs the carotid artery. But that force is not enough to kill.

However, always handle an air gun as if it were a real firearm.

My Picks

Now you have a better understanding of choosing the right pellet pistol for either hunting or recreation. Of course, I have my preferred pellet pistol from the list of reviewed options, and I’ll be happy to share.

The Crosman Vigilante 357 CO2 Air Pistol Kit with Holster does it for me with cogent reasons. One of which is that it is CO2 powered and has a decent 365 FPS velocity, while not as much as many in this list, does well for plinking which is what I use it for.

If you’re like me, you appreciate ergonomic feels and the finger-molded grip design does it for you. Anyway, I would like to know if you have experience with pellet pistols and which you favor in this list.

Travis Mike

Travis Mike is a firearm enthusiast and author passionate about all things guns. With 10 years of experience in the industry, Travis Mike has gained a wealth of knowledge on the subject. He is skilled in gunsmithing and tactical training. In addition to professional experience, Travis Mike is an avid hunter and shooter, regularly participating in local shooting ranges and hunting trips.