Best Airsoft AK47 Rifles | 2024 Ultimate Guide

The AK, developed by Mikhail Kalashnikov, is probably the most prolific weapons platform in history. Seen and used in almost every corner of the world, the AK is cemented as not only an icon of weapons design but one of culture as well. In all forms of entertainment, you are bound to see the rifle show up no matter if you are watching an action movie or playing a video game. The AK seems to be here to stay now and for generations to come and one thus must ask what is the best airsoft AK47?

The airsoft AK shares a lot of the same fanbase as seen in the real steel world, used by many and loved by even more. With that in mind, there is a whole gamut of AKs out there coming from a menagerie of manufacturers. Everything from gas to electric airsoft guns, sometimes it's not easy finding the right one when searching in a sea of options. In this article, we aim to help you wade through the wide array of AK choices to serve you 12 of the best airsoft AKs.

HOW WE CHOSE THE BEST AIRSOFT AKS

There are a number of important factors we considered when compiling our list of Best Airsoft AK, these include:

FUN FACTOR – Airsoft is a hobby so airsoft guns must be able to generate joy. We look at recoil, sound, design, optional accessories, and overall awesomeness that make the gun interesting. Non-shooting models can also be fun, like a beautiful revolver with realistic ammo that you can load into a rotating cylinder. We rate each of our picks on how much pleasure you can derive from ownership.

REALISM – What makes Airsoft guns attractive for so many is that they replicate real guns. While many manufacturers try their best to recreate the details and feel of a real gun, some succeed while others fail horribly and end up with something more akin to a toy. We rate how real each of our top picks feels and looks.

PERFORMANCE – Power measured in feet-per-second (FPS), range and accuracy are the key metrics we use to determine the best airsoft gun. From there, we also prioritize airsoft guns with an adjustable hop-up and high-quality buckings to ensure that they give the consistency and accuracy you need. All FPS ratings are universally based on 0.2 gram BBs.

BUILD QUALITY – We look for good quality construction, materials and refinement not only in the external components but also internally. The fit tolerances, discernable wobbles and rattles, smoothness of operation, durability of components, etc are all considered.

VALUE – Affordable airsoft guns that rank highly in all the above categories are prioritized over more expensive airsoft guns that offer the same, as "bang for your buck" is an important consideration for most airsoft players.  These criteria rates if you are getting more for your money compared to similar guns in the same class, meaning is it a good deal. For more information on how to determine the value of an airsoft gun, check out this article on what goes into the cost of an airsoft gun.

COLLECTABILITY – Sometimes an Airsoft gun stands out simply because it is unique either because it’s not produced by anyone else or holds enough of a cultural or collectable value to make you want to have a piece of history regardless of its utility. This criteria in particular rates whether the gun is a must-have for collectors. Some rare or limited edition Airsoft guns even appreciate in value in the secondary market and we rate their investment value where applicable.

Best Airsoft AK Rifles

ARCTURUS AK12K AIRSOFT AEG RIFLE

he Arcturus AK12 airsoft gun is a modern-style AK rifle that offers an out-of-the-box modernization to the platform. Featuring many modern comforts such as Picatinny rails, and adjustable & foldable stock, the Arcturus AKs are ideal for the AK enthusiast looking for something outside of the standard wooden affair. This particular version of AK12 has a 2 round burst as well!

Internally the guns feature version 3 gearboxes and feature a quick change spring system. This allows you to upgrade your gun easily with a wide variety of upgrade parts. Additionally, the muzzle has threading of 14mm CCW, allowing for different muzzle devices such as tracers.

WE AK74 GBBR

Probably the one of the best airsoft AKs on this list that appeals to the player that wants the most realism, the WE AK74 is the only gas airsoft rifle featured here that touts full bolt travel. For the sake of gas efficiency, many other brands limit the traveling distance of the bolt carrier when shot. While this does allow you to shoot more using only a single full charge of gas, it can at times come at the cost of realism, especially for those that might want to use an airsoft gun as a training platform. Even though the WE AK74's full travel will come at the detriment of its gas efficiency, it certainly makes it more fun to shoot!

Hephaestus HTS-14

The first and only bullpup on our list, the HTS-14 is a compact, head-turning AK that is sure to be a conversation starter. Based on the GHK platform, the HTS-14 is highly gas efficient and its compact size is great for CQB. Being so compact, there's not much space even for a handguard but it makes up for this with its great accuracy and unique design!

CYMA AK Series

CYMA is widely considered the go-to choice for many players around the world when considering a budget, entry-level AK. However, don't let this moniker fool you into thinking it's a "basic" gun. The CYMA AK series of electric airsoft guns are great shooters out of the box and are ideal for players that love to modify their guns as they are based on Tokyo Marui spec. While their stock form is nothing to ride home about, they make up for this by offering steel receivers, accessories, and internals that are tried and tested!

E&L AK Series

For the longest time, if you were looking for electric airsoft AKs, E&L was the gold standard. E&L boasted guns that were exceptionally well made and highly realistic! Many of the guns featured real wood construction, high-quality stamping, and correct markings to boot, making them loved by even the most discerning of buyers. However, over the years they have wained slightly in popularity causing them to be hard to find and their internals do require some TLC.

Tokyo Marui AK47 Type 3 Next Generation (NGRS EBB) Airsoft AEG Rifle

The Tokyo Marui AK47 NGRS (Next Generation Recoil Shock) was a highly anticipated gun leading up to its release. The NGRS offered users that lived in countries with climates unsuitable for extensive gas usage more realism with its electric recoil system. While the gun doesn't kick as hard as a gas airsoft gun, it does offer some extra fun for players that value these things. In addition, it being a TM, this means it will enjoy fantastic performance and a wide array of aftermarket upgrade parts.

LCT PP-19-01

Players around the world were ecstatic when LCT released the PP-19-01 as many longed to own this 9mm style AK used by several different Russian police and military units. The PP-19 is a prime example of LCT's quality as its construction is solid, the details are all there, and above all, it performs very well out of the box. It does feature a top picatinny rail for the mount of optics and other accessories and folding stock to make it easier to transport. Probably the only knock against it would be that internally while robust it's quite basic.

Tokyo Marui AKM GBBR

This is Tokyo Marui first entry into the gas airsoft AK market and they entered with a huge splash! The Tokyo Marui AKM's internal mechanism is based on their critically acclaimed ZET system found also in their wildly popular M4 MWS. This means the AKM enjoys exceptional gas efficiency, accuracy, semi and full-auto performance, as well as upgrade parts from many third-party manufacturers. The only downsides to this gun, its wood bits are faux wood and the receiver sets are stamped with lines too clean. This level of precision while admirable does take away from the overall rugged AK aesthetic, making it feel a bit "cold".

GHK AKM Gas Blowback Rifle

The most realistic gas blowback AK based rifle in airsoft. The GHK AK series is the definitive GBB AKs on the market, having the best combination of realism, functionality and performance available. Coming in various models with many parts fully interchangeable with each other, the GHK AK series allows you to customise your AK into whatever version you want with the realistic shooting experience of firing an AK allowing you to dominate the field.