Best overall AEG: Evolution Ghost 3.0 Viper S

If we had to point one player at one rifle, this would be it. Evolution’s Carbontech construction keeps the Ghost 3.0 Viper S light and quick to handle without feeling cheap or hollow, and the internals are a real step above budget guns. It sits in that sweet spot where build quality and price meet, which is exactly where most players want to be.

It suits woodland and CQB equally, runs happily on a sensible LiPo battery, and has plenty of rail space for the optics and accessories you will inevitably add. A brilliant all-rounder that will not hold you back as you improve.

Best value AEG: JG S-552

Starting out and want a gun that just works without eating your whole budget? The JG S-552 is a genuine best-value pick. It runs at around 331 FPS on 0.20g BBs, so it is site legal out of the box, and the two-position folding stock makes it easy to handle in tight spaces. A reliable Version 3 gearbox and a 200 round hi-cap magazine are included.

Spending sensibly on your first gun leaves money for the things that really matter early on: good eye protection, a spare magazine and a battery. This is a smart, honest starting point. New to the hobby? Start with our beginner’s guide to airsoft and our roundup of the best airsoft guns for beginners, or see more wallet-friendly options in our best budget airsoft guns guide.

Best for CQB: Vorsk VMP-1X Gas SMG

For close-quarters play, the Vorsk VMP-1X is huge fun and full of character. It is a gas blowback SMG rather than an AEG, so you get proper recoil and a snappy, realistic feel that an electric gun cannot match. It runs at 328 FPS / 0.99J with semi and full-auto fire, uses the proven KWA System 7 gas system, and comes with two 48-round magazines and a quick-detach suppressor in the box.

It runs on green gas, and is CO2 magazine compatible if you want more consistency in the cold, see our guide to green gas versus CO2. Note this is a realistic imitation firearm, so a UKARA defence applies; our UKARA guide explains how that works.

Best mid-range AEG: G&G Firehawk

G&G is one of the most trusted names in airsoft, and the Firehawk is a great example of why. It lands right in the mid-range sweet spot: a solid, well-built platform that runs reliably out of the box and gives you a dependable base to upgrade from when you are ready.

If you have moved past your first gun and want something with a bit more pedigree that will not need immediate work, the Firehawk is an easy one to recommend.

Best premium AEG: E&C 416 A5

For experienced players who want the real thing, the E&C 416 A5 delivers a full-metal HK416-style build with the realistic weight, feel and durability that make a gun a joy to run. The reinforced V2.0 gearbox is a strong, well-understood platform, so it is ready to take upgrades and keep performing season after season. Keep it running sweetly with our airsoft gun maintenance guide.

This is the gun for the player who knows what they want and intends to keep it for the long haul.

Best first gas rifle: Vorsk VMP-2M

The VMP-2M is our pick for your first gas rifle because it gives you that experience at a sensible price, without jumping straight to a top-tier GBBR. At 1J / 330fps it is a great way to find out whether gas is for you without overcommitting. Pair it with our advice on running gas in UK weather and you are set.

Best overall pistol: E&C Hi-Capa 5.1

The Hi-Capa is the platform that most pistol players end up on, and for good reason: it is accurate, gas-efficient and endlessly upgradeable, with a huge aftermarket. E&C’s version gives you all of that at superb value, which makes it the ideal gun to learn on and then tinker with for years.

If you are buying one pistol and want it to keep up as you get more serious, start here.

Best budget pistol: Action Army AAP-01

The Action Army AAP-01 is the budget benchmark that everyone else is measured against. It is lightweight, reliable and endlessly customisable, with semi and full-auto fire in a compact, modern platform. It is a favourite for beginners and dedicated pistol players alike.

It is also available in a two-tone finish, which means no UKARA defence is needed to buy it, making it one of the easiest ways for a newcomer to get a great gas pistol.

Best service pistol pattern: E&C G17 Gen 5

If you want a realistic sidearm for a proper loadout, the E&C G17 Gen 5 is a faithful G17 Gen 5 pattern replica with crisp, snappy blowback. It fits every standard G17 pattern holster, feels right in the hand, and comes in at a price that is genuinely hard to argue with. It also slots neatly into a full airsoft loadout.

The obvious choice for milsim and loadout players who want their sidearm to match the real thing.

Best gas sidearm to watch: Kizuna Works KW-15K

New to the market and worth keeping an eye on, the Kizuna Works KW-15K is a premium, modern sidearm with sharp blowback and looks that stand out from the usual service pistol and Hi-Capa crowd. It is a great shout for a player who wants something a bit different.

It is proving popular, so stock moves quickly. If it shows as out of stock, use the button on its page to get an alert the moment it lands back in.