Most airsoft guns are designed to look and feel just like real firearms, and that is why lots of people assume these could be used to kill animals. While this may be true for small critters like mice and birds, airsoft guns simply aren’t powerful enough to hunt with. In some countries, shooting an airsoft gun at animals is even illegal for ethical reasons.
Airsoft guns can kill animals however, that is not their intended purpose. A plastic BB shot from a rifle may deliver sufficient energy to kill small mammals and birds but it will struggle against larger targets. An air rifle is better suited for hunting because it can provide a higher power output.
Keep in mind that airsoft guns have been developed to be used in action-simulation games where you are allowed to shoot people, provided they use adequate protective gear. The purpose of an airsoft match is to eliminate opposing players by hitting them with 6mm plastic BBs and not hurting them in any meaningful way.
Airsoft Guns Are Not Good for Hunting
A basic airsoft rifle shoots a plastic 6 mm pellet at around 1.5 joules (which is about 1.09 foot-pounds). The range and accuracy are nothing like that of a real firearm or even that of an airgun (also known as bb guns). You can expect to score hits at distances of 50 to 60 yards or around 50 meters on a target the size of a human. With improvements and fine-tuning the range can be extended to around 100 yards, but the accuracy won’t be sufficient to consistently hit what you are aiming at.
The ammunition we use in airsoft is a limiting factor for range and accuracy. Most people use 0.25 gram or 0.28 gram BBs in their replicas, while some might step up to 0.4 gram for sniper rifles. Even with heavier ammo, the amount of force you can deliver on a target is nothing like that of a real gun. To give you an idea, a modified airsoft sniper rifle may be able to reach 7.5 joules, but at this power, it won’t be legal to use in an airsoft game. A .22 Long Rifle caliber gun will shoot a 60-gr bullet at 163 joules. This is a very small bullet usually used for target practice and vermin hunting and as you can tell the power it delivers is significantly higher than that of an airsoft BB.
Hunting With Airsoft Guns
While you can kill some small animals like mice and birds with airsoft guns, there is a chance you won’t manage to do it humanely. This means that you might cause the animal to suffer needlessly because one shot may not be enough to finish it off. Because of this, hunting with airsoft guns is ethically wrong. You should never aim to cause unnecessary pain, even to animals that are considered vermin.
Here is the owner of Ballahack Airsoft discussing airsoft gun etiquette when playing outdoors and encountering wildlife. It will certainly give you an idea of whether hunting with airsoft guns is a valid possibility.
As I pointed out before, airsoft guns lack the accuracy of a real firearm or an airgun. The BB trajectory can easily be altered by gusts of wind, dirt buildup on the inner barrel, and manufacturing inconsistencies on the BB itself (meaning it isn’t a perfect sphere). Even if you are a good marksman, you might not hit the animal you are targeting in a vital area of the body. This will probably incapacitate the animal and cause it to suffer.
To sum up, airsoft guns are a poor choice for hunting. Some countries even have legislation that prohibits hunting with airsoft replicas. As an example, this article covers California Airgun Laws. You also shouldn’t be pointing and firing your airsoft rifle at animals and this needs to be explained to young people as they are more likely to try it. Most airsoft manufacturers also state this fact in the manuals that accompany each replica.
Airsoft Guns Versus Air Guns/Rifles
A common misconception for most people is that airsoft guns are similar to air guns. In fact, the difference between these types of guns is quite significant. First of all, airsoft guns are designed to be used in a sport that involves shooting at other people, while air guns are meant to be used for target shooting and sometimes hunting.
Secondly, the ammunition is different. Airsoft guns use 6mm round plastic BBs that weigh between 0.2 and 0.48 grams, while air guns use metal (lead or copper) pellets with various shapes (depending on their use). These pellets are generally 4.5mm, 5.5mm or 6.35mm, and can have different weights like 6.8, 7.8, 9.6 grain. These can carry lots more energy and are suited for hunting small animals. Some air rifles can fire larger pellets and can be used for larger game.
Last but not least, the power output is different. In airsoft we measure the power in joules, but for air guns the power is measured in FPE (foot pounds of energy). 1 joule is approximately 0.73 foot pounds. A typical airsoft gun shoots at around 1.5 joules which is 1.1 foot pounds. Air rifles that are used for hunting range between 5 and 200 FPE.
This table from Airgun Depot can show you the minimum energy an air gun should have for hunting different animals.
| Game | Minimum Acceptable caliber* | Kill Zone** | Minimum Energy |
| Small Birds | .177+ | .5″ | 5 FPE |
| Medium Birds | .177+ | .75″ | 7 FPE |
| Large Birds | .22+ | 1″ | 11 FPE |
| Squirrel Sized Game | .22+ | 1″ | 9 FPE |
| Rabbit Sized Game | .22+ | 1″ | 9 FPE |
| Raccoon Sized Game | .22+ (.25+ recommended) | 1.5″ | 25 FPE |
| Possum Sized Game | .22+ (.25+ recommended) | 1.5″ | 25 FPE |
| Fox Sized Game | .22+ (.30+ recommended) | 1.5″ | 35 FPE |
| Coyote Sized Game | .30+ | 2″ | 50 FPE |
| Javilina Sized Game | .357+ | 2″ | 90 FPE |
| Small Deer | .357+ | 2″ | 100 FPE |
| Medium Deer | .40+ | 2.5″ | 150 FPE |
| Larger Deer | .45+ | 2.5″ | 200 FPE |
| Hog | .45+ | 2.5″ | 200 FPE |
As you can tell, the energy requirements even for small game are higher than what a standard airsoft gun can produce. That is why I would argue that airsoft guns should not be used for hunting purposes.
FAQs About Killing With an Airsoft Gun
As these are very common online, I decided to answer them in this section.
Can airsoft guns kill small animals/small game?
Yes, airsoft guns can kill small animals like mice and frogs, probably rats. However, simply because they can doesn’t mean they should be used for this purpose. If you would like to dispose of vermin, get a proper air gun or simply use traps. These are more humane ways of handling the problem.
Can airsoft guns kill birds?
Yes, airsoft guns can kill small birds like sparrows and pigeons. Larger birds probably won’t die unless you hit an eye or another soft body part. Shooting large birds with airsoft guns will hurt or incapacitate them, but you should never try to cause suffering. If you want to hunt, just get a hunting permit and a real firearm.
Can airsoft guns kill squirrels?
Yes, an airsoft gun can kill a squirrel, but it would probably need more than one shot. Hitting vital organs may kill them in one blow, but, as explained above, airsoft guns don’t have the accuracy to pull off consistent shots. Even if you do hit your target, the squirrel may run away and die from its wounds later on.
Can airsoft guns kill cats/dogs?
Probably not. Of course, there are exceptions, like kittens and puppies, but who would want to shoot those? Shooting a cat repeatedly with an automatic airsoft gun would probably kill it, however, that will certainly be considered animal cruelty. Larger dogs could probably handle being shot, but it would still cause lots of pain. The only occasion where I might consider shooting a dog with an airsoft gun would be in the case of an attack, but even then, there are better ways of avoiding said attack.
Can airsoft guns kill snakes?
Yes, see the video above. The snake was clearly killed with an airsoft gun, but it took more than one shot, most likely nine. Disposing of snakes on your property is something that you should leave to the professionals. Especially if you are not sure what kind of snake it is.
Can airsoft guns kill deer?
No, and it would probably be illegal to shoot deer with an airsoft gun. Here is a quote I found from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife:
An airsoft gun could indeed harm a deer, especially if it were shot in the eye at close range. Shooting deer with an airsoft gun would be considered harassment of animals, prohibited under the California Code of Regulations. The regulation prohibits any intentional act which disrupts an animal’s normal behavior, including breeding, feeding and sheltering. Violation of this code section may be punishable as a misdemeanor.
There is an exception outlined in the code for landowners or tenants who are driving off birds or mammals for the purpose of preventing property damage.