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Best Airsoft M4 / M16 2020 — Buyer’s Guide

By Mike O'Sullivan | Last Updated April 10, 2020

With the rise of better machining and more advanced electric motors, the world of airsoft has exploded. Whether for casual use shooting cans and bottles or in a competitive capacity playing in squad-based wargames, the automatic electric gun, or AEG, the market continues to evolve.

Still, figuring out which gun to buy can be a difficult task. This is especially true since the price is quite often less of an indicator in this market that it might be in some others. Magazine capacity, feet per second, and a host of other qualities all determine which guns are better than the others.

That is why we have put together a list of the best airsoft M4 / M16 guns on the market, highlighting what each one does better than the rest. Then we provide a helpful buyer’s guide, so you can find the right AEG for your needs.

Best Airsoft M4 / M16 2020

NameSpeedMaterialMagazine 
BBTac M4 M16 Replica Airsoft Gun M83 A2
(Best Budget M4)
200-250 FPSABS plastic45 Check Price
G&G Airsoft Combat Machine M4 Raider
(Editor's Choice)
380-400 FPSHigh quality plastic body instead of a metal body. Full metal gearbox
450 Check Price
Lancer Tactical LT-12TK M4
405-415 FPSDurable polymer, full metal gear box300 Check Price
JG M4 RIS System415 FPSMetal gear box. Heavy weight body, with a lot of metal parts300 Check Price
BBTac Airsoft Gun CQB 315-FPS AEG M16/M4315 FPSPlastic300 Check Price
Lancer Tactical Velocity Airsoft LT-02B400 FPSABS and Metal. The internal parts are made of metal
300 Check Price
Lancer Tactical M4 CQB401 FPSDurable ABS Plastic body construction, but its also has a Full Metal V2 Gearbox
300 Check Price
JG M4 S-System RIS420 FPSMetal + ABS plastic300 Check Price

1. BBTac M4 M16 Replica Airsoft Gun M83 A2 – Best Budget Air Rifle

BBTac M4/M16 Replica M83 A2

We all have to start somewhere, and in the air rifle world, the BBTac M83 A2 is the great place for beginners to look. While it may not be able to boast the best specs nor the best build quality, it does provide a wide range of features at an incredibly attractive price that makes it a solid entry-level air gun.

One of the best qualities about the BBTac M83 A2 is the sheer number of accessories that it comes with. First, it comes with a broomstick handle. This is important because it allows you to better stabilize the gun while in motion, making your shots more accurate during a firefight that requires you to progress or retreat from your position.

On top of that, this air rifle also comes with a couple of other add-ons that make sighting your target easier. For instance, this is the only gun on our list to feature a side-mounted tactical flashlight. This is especially beneficial if you ever choose to compete in a nighttime wargame. Even better, the included red dot scope can help sight your target day or night.

Pros
  • The least expensive gun reviewed
  • Adjustable rear stock
  • Comes with rechargeable battery
  • Comes with flashlight
  • Comes with red dot scope
  • Comes with broomstick
Cons
  • Holds the fewest BBs in magazine
  • Fires slowest at 200-250 fps
  • Made from ABS plastic
  • A somewhat heavy gun

2. G&G Airsoft Combat Machine M4 Raider – Editor’s Choice Air Rifle

G&G Сombat M4 Raider

Once you graduated to a more advanced skill set and are ready for a higher level of competition, the G&G Raider is a logical choice. That said, this airgun is rated the Editor’s Choice primarily because it can serve equally effective in anyone’s hands. This makes it a solid option whether as a personal primary or as a team primary backup in case someone suffers equipment malfunctions at a competition.

This is accomplished specifically through a design that is made to be as easily used by a left-handed competitor as it is by a right-handed competitor. This is fairly rare in the airgun world as most are made for a single handedness configuration. With a charging handle and magazine release that is ambidextrous, anyone can pick this gun up and go without issue.

Beyond that, the G&G Raider also boasts the largest magazine on our list at 450 BBs. This makes it an ideal for a heavy infantry position on a wargames team that needs to lay down suppressing the fire to allow their teammates to move into or out of position. Of course, no solid air rifle would be complete without a full metal gearbox.
Pros
  • Holds 450 BBs in magazine
  • Full metal gearbox
  • A reasonably light gun
  • Ambidextrous charging handle
  • Ambidextrous magazine release
  • Built-in iron sights
  • 8” polymer rail system
Cons
  • Fires a tad slow at 380-400 fps
  • A fairly expensive gun
  • Does not come with battery

3. Lancer Tactical LT-12TK M4 – Best All-Around Value Air Rifle

Lancer Tactical LT-12TK M4

While there might be some air rifles that edged the Lancer Tactical LT-12TK out for all-around use, there are none that we saw which provide a better all-around value. That is because this air rifle provides a solid set of features all competitors seek at a far more reasonable price than most. That said, it is not the best performing in truly any respect.

Still, with a 300 BB magazine, the LT-12TK meets the standard average that you expect to find on any competition worthy air rifle. With an fps between 405 and 415, it provides a consistent rate of speed for accuracy whether you use heavy or light BBs. Combined, they provide an overall solid performance.

The gearbox is made entirely out of metal, but it is the LT-12TK’s body that truly stands out. Rather than simple ABS, this air rifle features a durable polymer that can withstand more abuse than most. Moreover, this air rifle also provides one of the most customizable rail systems that we saw.
Pros
  • Holds a solid 300 BBs magazine
  • Fires a good 405-415 fps
  • A less expensive gun
  • Full metal gearbox
  • Body made from durable polymer
  • A fairly light gun
  • Incredibly customizable rails
Cons
  • Flip sights are cheap
  • Has a strong kickback
  • Sling and charging handle is flimsy

4. JG M4 RIS System – Fastest Shooting Air Rifle

JG M4 RIS System

Jing Gong, or JG, is a brand of automatic electric guns that have a bit of an up-and-down reputation. While it is by no means a bad brand, it does feature some design qualities that can be frustrating at times. Still, it often comes through in some way, and this air rifle proves to be no different.

With a solid fps of 415 of 0.2g BBs and an incredible fps of 500 for lighter, 0.12g BBs, this is easily the fastest shooting air rifle that we saw. While you can certainly find air rifles on the market that can fire at a rate of 1000 fps or more, those will often cost $1000 or more as well. At just a hair above average, this air rifle is priced ideally to give excellent competition value.

The rail system is solid, though it is not the best on our list, and the retractable stock does provide the option of transitioning the air rifle from a close quarters combat primarily to more of a marksman primary should the need arise–though this is by no means a suitable replacement for an air sniper rifle.

Pros
  • Holds a solid 300 BBs magazine
  • Fires a quick 415-500 fps
  • Features metal gearbox
  • Includes battery and charger
  • Solid rail systems
  • Stock is retractable
  • Adjustable hop-up magazine
Cons
  • A somewhat expensive gun
  • A fairly heavy gun
  • Difficult to disassemble and clean
  • Battery placement is poor

5. BBTac Airsoft Gun CQB 315-FPS AEG M16/M4 – Best CQB Air Rifle

BBTac CQB AEG M16/M4

BBTac makes another appearance on our list, this time with an air rifle that is similar in design to most of the others with one notable difference: a greatly shortened barrel. With a barrel that is sized more closely to a submachine gun than it is an assault rifle, this BBTac is far more easy to manoeuvre in the tight quarters that might be found in an urban-themed course.

Much like other BBTacs, this air rifle is significantly less expensive than most of the others on our list. Unfortunately, this is in a large part due to the fact that the gearbox of this CQB air rifle is not made entirely out of metal. As such, this air rifle might be better suited as a large secondary–though that will generally depend on the position, with heavy infantry being the most likely.

Still, this air rifle does offer a decent magazine capacity with 300 BBs, though the 315 fps is definitely on the slower side of our list. This air rifle includes a free red dot sight as well as included iron sights. With a collapsible stock, this air rifle can easily manoeuvre in and out of any setting.

Pros
  • Holds a solid 300 BBs magazine
  • A fairly inexpensive gun
  • Includes a red dot sight
  • Solid rail interface system
  • Includes battery and charger
  • Stock is retractable
  • Adjustable hop-up magazine
Cons
  • Fires a slow 315 fps
  • A fairly heavy rifle
  • Not that durable

6. Lancer Tactical Velocity Airsoft LT-02B – Most Accurate Air Rifle

Lancer Tactical Velocity LT-02B

Quite often when the marksman of a wargames squad looks for an air rifle, they choose one that is centred around a sniper design. However, few courses actually offer the kind of high nests or open spaces that make sniping the best tactic. Instead, a marksman is better served by an air rifle that can provide excellent accuracy at mid-level ranges while still easily converting to short-ranged firefights.

That is where the Lancer Tactical LT-02B comes into play. While the fps may seem a decent, but not spectacular, 400, the actual machining of the barrel of this air rifle make it easily one of the most accurate products that we reviewed. When you combine that with a solid adjustable hop-up magazine, there are few air rifles in this price range that can compete in accuracy.

That said, you will likely need to adjust to the kick of this air rifle and it is not the best for firing from the hip. Still, the all-around build quality of this gun is one of the better that we saw with mostly metal construction–including the gearbox.

Pros
  • Holds a solid 300 BBs magazine
  • A less expensive gun
  • A fairly light gun
  • Adjustable hop-up magazine
  • Full metal gearbox
  • Solid all-around build quality
  • Fairly powerful shot
Cons
  • A somewhat expensive gun
  • Battery difficult to place
  • Has a tendency to overheat

7. Lancer Tactical M4 CQB – Best Replica Air Rifle

Lancer Tactical M4 CQB

Lancer Tactical makes another appearance on our list with its CQB model, though it is not necessarily the best CQB air rifle we reviewed. That is because Lancer Tactical made it a point to model this air rifle as accurately as possible, manufacturing a gun that features a true 1:1 scale. As such, if you are in the market for an air rifle that most accurately replicates the M4 / M16, this is the best choice.

Thankfully, the LT-CQB is not just a pretty face as its general specs are solid. With a 300 BB capacity magazine and a 400 fps, this air rifle may not jump out at you, but it more than checks the boxes for competent use in competitive play. However, one of the best qualities of this air rifle, and likely why it was designated as a CQB gun, is its physical qualities.

Following a 1:1 scale, this cannot be the best CQB air rifle on our list because its size is a bit large for narrow hallways. However, it might more than make up for that in dense forest courses due to it being one of the lightest air rifles on our list.
Pros
  • Holds a solid 300 BBs magazine
  • A less expensive gun
  • Full metal V2 Gearbox
  • One of the lightest gun
  • Solid 400 fps rate of fire
  • Adjustable hop-up magazine
  • Comes with battery
Cons
  • Battery difficult to install
  • Accuracy is subpar
  • Plastic body, not the most durable

8. JG M4 S-System RIS – Best Rail System Air Rifle

JG M4 S-System RIS

The JG S-System will likely not blow many competitors away, but if you are looking for an air rifle that you can customize and make your own, then this is the product for you. That is because this is one of the few air rifles we saw that features a rail system which is made entirely out of metal. The benefit of this arrangement is that you can actually install sights and other additions that are meant for heavier guns onto this bad boy.

On top of the customization options, the JG S-System also provides a decent magazine capacity of 300 BBs with a better than average fps of 400 for 0.2g BBs and 420 fps for 0.12g BBs. Even better, both the gearbox and almost the entire body are made out of metal for durability that is hard to find in this market.

That said, all of that metal does carry with it one unfortunate consequence: weight. This is by far one of the heaviest air rifles that we reviewed. When you combine that with a price that also tops our list, the JG S-System tops out our list in two categories you do not want it to.
Pros
  • Holds a solid 300 BBs magazine
  • Fires a blistering 400-420 fps
  • Made almost entirely of metal
  • Full metal gearbox
  • Comes with battery and charger
  • Adjustable hop-up magazine
  • All metal rail system
Cons
  • The most expensive gun reviewed
  • A fairly heavy gun
  • Battery difficult to install

Buyer’s Guide

Let’s review the basic characteristic of the automatic electric guns.

Gearbox

This is by far the most important quality to consider when purchasing an automatic electric gun specifically for lifespan and durability concerns. Basically, the gearbox is was allows the gun to fire BBs in the first place, so you want to make sure that it is built to last over the course of extensive use. Thankfully, this consideration is fairly straightforward.

Do not, we repeat, do not purchase an automatic electric gun without a full metal gearbox with the intention of using it for any sort of competitive purpose. Whether it is competitive target shooting or wargaming, you need to make sure the gunfire continuously without fail. In fairness, the quality of the BBs you are firing can affect this as well, but the gearbox is by far more important to this equation.

Of course, if all you intend to use the automatic electric gun for is to plink tin cans and glass bottles, then this is an area where you could conceivably skrimp to save a little money. Just keep in mind that even moderate use of the gun is likely to wear out the gearbox fairly quickly and will ultimately cost you more in the long run.

Feet Per Second

This is likely the second most important consideration when choosing an automatic electric gun for competitive purposes. That said, much like with gearboxes, if you only intend to use this weapon for plinking tin cans and glass bottles, you do not necessarily need to worry about this factor quite so much.

For competitive uses, on the other hand, the feet per second, or fps, of the gun will often play a huge role in your ability to be successful. While those who use automatic electric guns for wargaming competitions might argue this is a vital component of their success, that actually does not hold up as much as they think.

Instead, it is the target shooting crowd that should be far more aware of the fps of their automatic electric gun. This is because the fps of their weapon will play a large role in accounting for the rate of drop of the BB after they fire it which will ultimately impact the general accuracy of the gun.

Wargamers, on the other hand, will actually need a gun that is more accurate while in motion. Considering wargames often involve competitors moving in squad formations and high-intensity firefights, the ability to set up a stable shot from a hundred plus yards away or more will ultimately pay fewer dividends than a gun that can handle rougher use.

Magazine Capacity

Incidentally, this quality will likely only be relevant for certain types of competitors who use electric air guns. Even more, interestingly, this is actually one of the few considerations that are likely to truly matter to those who intend to use the gun for plinking tin cans or glass bottles. Essentially, anyone who intends to fire the gun for extended periods of time is liable to prefer a larger magazine.

This explicitly does not generally include competitive target shooters. This niche of air rifle user may want an automatic electric gun with a large magazine capacity for an extended practice session, but they are unlikely to use it as much during the competition where they will rarely if ever, take that many shots throughout the entire competition.

Of course, this quality is often vitally important for competitive wargamers as running out of ammunition essentially leaves you helpless. As such, wargamers are not only likely to seek an automatic electric gun with a large magazine capacity, but they are also fairly likely to carry numerous backup magazines in competition as well.

Conclusion

Depending on what you intend to use your AEG for will factor heavily when figuring out which is the best airsoft m4 / m16 for you. If you only intend to use it occasionally and for non-competitive purposes, then the list of features preferred will differ greatly compared to someone who intends to use it for competitive wargaming.

For the beginner, we recommend the BBTac M83 A2. While it does have some distinct limitations to its fps and magazine capacity, it is also the least expensive product that we reviewed. On top of that, it comes with numerous extras and an adequate build quality.

Of course, once you are ready to graduate to the competitive world of wargaming, you will want to upgrade to the G&G Raider or Lancer Tactical LT-12TK. The G&G features the largest magazine capacity on our list, while the LT-12TK is the best all-around value. Both use full metal gearboxes for long-lasting play.

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