Classic Army M15A4 AEG Airsoft guns (also known as Soft Air Guns) are spring, electric, or gas powered air guns that fire small spherical plastic pellets of either 6 mm or 8 mm diameter (0.24 or 0.32 inches), although spring-operated "air guns" may be disputed as air guns altogether. Very cheap airsoft guns are normally underpowered and unsuitable for match play, but some Chinese manufacturers such as Jing Gong, Echo 1, A&K and BOYI/ D BOYS are now producing match-quality AEG's for under $100. The more expensive models by manufacturers such as Tokyo Marui, Classic Army, and G&G are preferred by professional players due to their reliability and accuracy. Most airsoft guns are replicas of real firearms, in keeping with the realistic style of airsoft, but occasionally fictional firearms or body kits are available, such as the M41A Pulse Rifle from the Aliens films. Some very inexpensive airsoft guns are reduced scale models (such as the Boys models by some makers) or caricatures (such as the mini-electrics) of firearms. In addition, some designs are replicas of firearms that never even went into service or production, such as XM8 prototypes. There are three types of airsoft gun: spring, gas, and electric. All work on the same principle of compressed gas expanding to force a pellet down the gun's barrel and each type has its own advantages and disadvantages.

A Tokyo Marui M14, Marui MP5A4, G&P M4-CQBR, Jing Gong XM177E2, Galaxy MP5K-PDW, Maruzen M870 BV, Tokyo Marui P226, KSC M92FS Elite IA, Kokusai M10 (2 inch), MGC M1911, Kokusai M10 (4 inch), Tanaka Colt Python (4 inch).