If you’ve been wondering about the noise output of airsoft replicas, you need to know a bit about the factors which influence the sound. First of all, you need to take into account the type of replica you are dealing with, meaning how it is powered – spring, electric or gas, as each of these has its specific operating noise. Second of all, the quality of the gun should be considered, as it can have an impact on how quiet or loud the replica functions. Needless to say, more expensive guns tend to have higher quality parts, which are put together with lower tolerances and this makes them quieter. Let’s take a look at some numbers to see exactly how loud airsoft guns are.
Airsoft guns are as loud as a regular TV program, which is around 90-95 decibels (dB). In this range, they are safe to use even without hearing protection. Based on the firing mechanism, some replicas are louder than others. Gas and HPA powered guns are loudest at around 99 dB, AEGs are a bit quieter at around 95 dB, while springers get around 84 dB.
| Replica type | Noise level – dB |
| Spring guns | Around 84 dB |
| Gas pistols | 94 – 96 dB |
| AEGs | 94 – 97 dB |
| Gas and HPA replicas | 95 – 100 dB |
With the rough figures out of the way, we can now check out some specifics for noise levels. As mentioned before, an airsoft replica is probably around 90-100 dB when fired. To put this into perspective, your ears would experience pain at around 125 dB, while at noise above 180 dB your hearing tissue begins to die. A regular firearm emits something like 140 dB. This, of course, can vary depending on the type of firearm and the caliber, but it is definitely louder than an airsoft replica.
| Sound | Noise level – dB |
| Gun Fire | 140 dB |
| Stereo (100 watts and over) | 110 – 125 dB |
| Television | 70 – 90 dB |
| Normal Conversation | 60 – 70 dB |
| Whisper | 30 dB |
Measuring the sound of an airsoft replica
The obvious way of measuring the sound of an airsoft gun is by using a decibel meter. However, not everyone has such a device lying around the house and getting one just for airsoft purposes probably doesn’t make much sense. If you do want one, you can probably get a good model for around 22$ on Amazon (affiliate link). A cheaper alternative (maybe even free) would be to just install a sound meter app on your smartphone as that can offer a pretty good idea on how loud your airsoft gun is.
Using such an app I measured the three AEGs I currently own. The measuring was done inside a small room I use for storage, so the results may not be entirely accurate.
- Specna Arms S04 Edge Series M4 – 95 dB – the gun is stock and uses a 7.4 V LiPo battery.
- Cyma CM.077D AK – 96 dB – the gun has had the motor replaced and the gearbox has been shimmed, using a 9.6 V NiMH battery.
- Cyma CM.076A AK – 98 dB – the gun is brand new, never used in a game, using a 9.6 V NiMH battery.
Both AKs shoot a little hot and the prevalent noise seems to come from the cylinder head. The M4 has a slight whine when fired, probably coming from the motor. Another thing to keep in mind is that AK replicas use Version 3 gearboxes, while M4s use a Version 2 gearbox. As I am not very good at the technical side, I couldn’t tell you which gearbox has lower operating sound, but it probably varies from manufacturer to manufacturer.
Noise levels for airsoft guns
The paragraphs below will cover the difference in sound between the main types of airsoft replicas. These have been sorted according to the power source – spring, electric or gas. Each one has a distinctive sound, so you could probably tell what gun a player you encounter on the field is using. In addition, I’ve added a few tips for making your airsoft gun quieter (or louder) if that is what you are here for.
Springers – how loud can they get?
Spring powered airsoft replicas are generally the quietest. They tend to have lower power output than electric or gas guns and fewer moving parts, which makes their operation less loud. These guns need to be cocked after each shot, compressing the spring. When the trigger is pulled, the spring pushes forward a piston that compresses air which propels the BB out of the barrel.
The noise a springer makes is around 95 dB, depending on the power of the spring and the materials used in the piston assembly.
AEG noise levels
As mentioned above, AEGs are louder than spring guns, as they have more moving parts and can develop higher power output. If you’ve never heard an AEG before, you shouldn’t expect anything too realistic, as they usually make a whining sound, followed by a small thump. Most of the sound comes from the electric motor spinning the 3 cogs in the gearbox. The thump is heard when the piston hits the cylinder head.
AEG motors can have different sounds as they come in a variety of shapes and power outputs. It is generally agreed that high torque motors are quieter than normal motors, but these are also more expensive, so you won’t find them in most AEGs. Higher end replicas come fitted with these as standard, but you can also use them in other guns, provided the gearbox can handle the extra power.
AEG noise can also originate from the 3 gears inside the gearbox. If these are fitted properly and use quality ball bearings, the noise they make is minimal. However, if they don’t line up correctly, they can be quite loud. Fortunately, you can fiddle with most gearboxes to make them operate more smoothly. The process is called shimming, and it implies using small washers that can modify the position of the gears ever so slightly, which aligns them properly so they make less noise when they spin. Another option is to replace the existing gears with higher quality ones (usually made from better materials or more carefully machined).
If you think the piston makes too much noise when it hits the front of the gearbox, you can apply a sorbo pad to the cylinder head. A sorbo pad is just a round piece of rubber or composite that is softer than the stock material that comes in most gearboxes. Because it is softer, it can absorb the shock better and thus reduces the noise of the piston as it slams forward when firing.
Gas guns noise levels
Gas guns are the loudest airsoft replicas, coming in at around 99 dB. These guns work by releasing a burst of gas from a pressurized container. As the gas is released, it looks to expand and this pushes the BB out of the barrel. Most of the noise you hear from a gas powered gun is just the sound of the compressed gas leaving the barrel. However, it is important to mention that the noise can vary depending on the type of gas which is being used. CO2 guns are generally louder as they work at a higher pressure than guns that are powered by green or red gas.
Another issue you need to consider when talking about the noise of gas guns is that most feature a blow back function. This means that you have more moving parts, which means more noise. The blow back is used to make the gun feel more realistic, as it mimics the action of a real firearm. For example, in the case of a gas pistol, the slide will rock back and forth as you fire, just like in a real gun. In addition, some models have visible hammers which initiate the action and they also can generate some noise. Obviously, with more moving parts, you get more noise output. That is why guns without blow back action are quieter and they tend to be more gas efficient as well, meaning they need less gas to operate.
In the video below you have an excellent comparison between a blowback pistol and a non blowback pistol. You can clearly see that the slide movement does produce extra noise.
To make a gas gun quieter, you probably need to perform regular maintenance on it. This means cleaning the parts thoroughly and then applying grease to the moving parts and the gas seals. This will ensure there is as little noise as possible when the gun fires.
Another thing which you can try is fitting a suppressor that is filled with foam as this can lower the sound of the expanding gas as it leaves the barrel. If you want to give this a shot, you should first check out your local legislation as it might be illegal to use a suppressor with foam baffles.
HPA guns – these technically fall in the gas gun category, as pressurized air is still a gas. However, with a HPA kit, you get the advantage of choosing the amount of pressure you want to use in your replica. This means that, if your gun is sturdy enough, you can get away with using higher pressures than even CO2 guns. Needless to say, a higher pressure will generate more noise as the action of the gun will be a tad more violent.
Making your airsoft gun louder
While most people want to make their replicas more quiet, others go the other way and try to find ways to make them louder, sometimes for added realism, sometimes to make them more intimidating on the airsoft field. The best way to do this is to use an amplifier at the end of the barrel.
Amplifiers look like fat and stubby flash hiders on the outside, while inside they have a cone shape. This influences the sound the air makes as it leaves the barrel, giving it a popping sound. While in no way as loud a real firearm, the sound could be cool for some people. You can find these easily in most online airsoft stores at prices ranging from 25$ to 50$. Just make sure you get the right threads for your replica.
As I said before, amplifiers can make your gun louder and some players like that. In my opinion, the only benefit would be to make your replica seem more powerful than it really is. A powerful gun will generally hurt more, so this might make your opponents less likely to poke out and shoot you, for fear of getting hurt.
Here is an example of how an amplifier will change the sound output: