Hi! This is a quick guide to buying Airsoft Guns/Acessories. I wrote this guide to help beginners narrow down their choices and ultimately get the gun they really want (this guide only refers to the high end replicas like Tokyo Marui, Classic Army, Top, ICS, Maruzen ect...)  First off know what kind of gun replica you want? It is divided between these categories rifle, shotgun, sniper, sub machinegun, light/heavy machinegun and pistols/revolvers. All airsoft replicas is powered by three different kinds of sources namely spring, gas and electric.  The price range is different between every category and there are definitely different advantages and disadvantages between each of them. Here is a quick rundown:

Rifles:

-The size of rifles is in between a sub machineguns and sniper rifles/ light heavy machineguns. Basically they are good all around gun. So basically pick this if you are undecided as what role you want to play in your team. Most if not all airsoft rifles are electric powered. Also note that airsoft rifles has the most number of acessories produced.

-The price range is from $200 up to $1300.

-Brands to look for: TOKYO MARUI, ICS, CLASSIC ARMY, TOP, STAR, G&P, G&G, SYSTEMA

Shotguns:

-There are 2 kinds of airsoft shotguns spring powered and gas powered. The most practical if your looking into buying a airsoft shotgun is the spring powered ones, just simply because of price and availability and durability. But if you want realism and power then gas shotguns is the only way to go. It uses shells like the real thing, it fires more than one bb and definitely more powerful out of the box than spring models (also depends on which type of gas you use and how many bb's you load into one shell). The disadvantages of buying a gas powered airsoft shotgun is it is expensive, need to constantly maintain it and you have to buy gas as well. Shotguns really excel in close quarters battles. I like to refer to them as room clearers" because they have the ability to fire more than one bb at a timeand able to hit more than one person.

-Price ranges from $130 up to $400

-Brands to look for: TOKYO MARUI, MARUZEN, MARUSHIN

 Sniper Rifles:

-Again there are two kinds of sniper rifles spring and gas powered (there are electric powered sniper rifles but they are nowhere close to the shot accuracy and consistency of spring/gas powered bolt action sniper rifles). Gas powered snipers are pretty powerful out of the box (depends what type of gas you use) and of course good range as well. The only problem is the gas itself for they dont last long it may be good for only about ten shots or so, then you have to refill it again and also take note that the best shots that you it produces is the 3rd up to the 3rd before the last shot, lets say your rifle is good for ten shots per fill of gas so your best shots will be from the 3rd to the 8th shot. The spring powered snipers in my opinion are the best (after you have upgraded them). They are easy to upgrade, very easy to maintain, very durable, very consistent in shots, can produce the most power out of any airsoft model (depends on your arm strength) and you dont have to worry about gas. Although out of the box it will outrange and outperform (in terms of accuracy) any electric rifle out of the box, it still isnt enough because the bb's move too slowly in the air. That is why I recommend in upgrading it right away.

-Price ranges from $150 up to $3000

-Brands to look for: TOKYO MARUI, MARUZEN, TANAKA, KJW, CLASSIC ARMY, VFC, SMOKEYS, GENNETH

Sub Machineguns:

-There are two kinds of submachineguns in airsoft, the gas and electric powered. The electric powered ones like the rifles is the most practical out of the two and they have an advantage over the gas ones because mainly, you dont have to use gas, they have high capacity magazines available and amazingly it goes as far as the electric rifles. If you want that WOW factor as well as realism then go for the gas versions. The rate of fire is simply amazing, it is more powerful out of the box than electric models, it kicks and best part of all is how it sounds when it is on full auto. The only thing with gas submachineguns is it is more expensive than the electric ones and I am speaking in terms of the other things you have to purchase with it. The rate of fire is so fast that it goes through a 50 round magazing in less than 2 seconds! And thats the thing about it the highest capacity you can buy for a gas submachinegun is 50 rounds only. I highly recommend you to buy 2 or more mags for it or else it is just good for backup or just plinking around. Gas submachineguns in my opinion is the most fun out of all airsoft items.

-Price ranges from $150 up to $250

-Brands to look for: MARUZEN, KSC, KWA, KWC, HFC

Light/Heavy Machinegun:

-If you want supressive fire, these are the ones to get and it only comes in electric. There is no select fire for it, cause it only fires in full auto. They have the ability to take a high capacity box magazines which is able to hold 2500 rounds and up. They are big, heavy and bulky but you can hold the trigger for long periods (thats the concept anyway) and is great for holding down forts/bunkers and keeping heads down. Very intimidating and very expensive out of the box.

-Price ranges from $500 up to $1500

-Brands to look for: TOP, CLASSIC ARMY, STAR

Pistols/ Revolvers:

-Pistols/ revolvers uses the three different power sources. Let me start off with the spring powered, they are the most economical, cheapest, weakest and easiest to maintain out of the three simply because if it breaks, just buy another one! I dont really recomend that you use it in a skirmish except for back-up on your back-up (although ive still seen people make hits with spring pistols) or maybe for just plinking around or a springer war. Gas pistols is the most realistic and the most fun for me (specially the ones with full auto capability). Because they function like the real ones, like you have to cock it before you shoot, the slide blows back everytime you pull the trigger, the safeties and every moving part like the slide stop works! The gas revolvers is different though, no blowback kick but the thing that that really makes it shine is it uses shells! The thing with gas pistols revolvers is that you have to really maintain it to keep it in perfect working condition and they dont work very well under cold weather. Now for the electric pistol models, there are 2 kinds, ones that have a blowback action and the ones that go full auto. Ones that have the blowback action are cheaper and almost as cheap as the the springers as well as weak as one. The ones that go full auto are more powerful and their range is pretty far almost as far as an electric submachinegun.

-Brands to look for: WESTERN ARMS, KSC, WE, KWA MARUZEN, MARUSHIN, KWC, KJW, SIIS, TANAKA, TANIO KOBA

-Price ranges from $70 up to $800