In our final listing, we have HAM’s top ten most popular firearm lookalikes and pistols for 2020.
The overwhelming majority of air pistols sold today are firearms replicas – or lookalikes. So we’ve brought together the most popular reviews for pistols of all types, together with the most popular firearm lookalikes long guns.
The second part of the logic is this. Most airgun replica long guns operate in a way that’s much closer to that of replica pistols than it is to other “non replica” air rifles. Interestingly, the top three most popular firearm lookalikes are all long guns…
Again, the HAM Team would like to thank all Hard Air Magazine readers – every one of you! In 2020, you read over 800,000 HAM test reviews – that’s an increase of 200,000 compared to the previous year.
In total, you spent 0ver 54,000 – yes FIFTY-FOUR THOUSAND HOURS – reading HAM reviews this year. Thank you for your support! We hope that you continue to find HAM test reviews informative, useful and interesting
So this really is your choice of top ten most popular firearm lookalikes and pistols for 2020!
The most popular manufacturer of most popular firearm lookalikes was SIG, with no less than five out of the top ten places. Umarex placed second with three (the Ruger, Glock and Thompson). Velocity Outdoor has one – the Bushmaster MPW. Weihrauch has one – the HW44 is the only “non lookalike” in this list.
Congratulations to all the manufacturers! Here’s the overview of your most popular firearm lookalikes…
Number One – Bushmaster MPW Full Auto BB Gun
HAM Tester Doug Wall summed up the Bushmaster MPW Full Auto BB Gun perfectly in his test notes. “This gun is a hoot to shoot!” he wrote. “Plan on stocking-up on CO2 and BBs if you get one. You’ll need them.”
The MPW offers realistic blowback action, accuracy and a great shot count. It field strips, looks and feels like an M4. And there’s the “rock and roll” full auto capability that’s guaranteed to bring a smile to every face!
The price is realistic and it’s backed by good warranty coverage and great support.
It’s a HAM Gold Award winner without any doubt!
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Crosman Bushmaster MPW Full Auto BB Gun
Second Place – Ruger 10/22 Air Rifle
The Ruger 10/22 Air Rifle wins a HAM Bronze Award for being a great-looking reproduction of the classic rimfire carbine. It’s accurate with a wide variety of pellets and has good muzzle velocity for a CO2-powered airgun.
Unfortunately, it’s let down by the trigger and action. Unlike the rimfire gun, it’s not a semi-auto.
When fired double action, the trigger is very heavy. It’s better shot as a straight pull bolt action with the trigger in single action mode. But that’s not the essence of a 10/22. If you can accept that limitation, you’ll like this gun.
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Ruger 10/22 CO2 Air Rifle
Third Position – SIG Sauer MCX
For the many looking for an ultra-realistic replica of an outstanding semi automatic military firearm for fun shooting or weapons training, you need look no further.
And if you’re a replica BB pistol shooter looking for an air rifle, you’re probably going to love the SIG SAUER MCX. It will give you a ton of smiles per mile! Pinpoint accuracy’s not critical and the low power means that you can use it safely in your indoor shooting range. For you, it offers outstanding value.
Note that the MCX was the first long gun firearms lookalike in the mainstream airgun market. So when this HAM review was produced in 2016, we compared it largely to existing air rifles. How times have changed in just five years in airguns!
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SIG MCX Scope Combo
Number Four – SIG Sauer P226
The SIG SAUER P226 pellet pistol is a good, functional CO2-powered version of the P226 firearm.
Its size, weight and trigger pull make it ideal as a training piece for the P226 firearm. It is also suitable for plinking and general recreational shooting. The shot count is good, as is muzzle velocity. And the unique SIG SAUER cam lever system for loading CO2 cartridges is outstandingly easy to use.
Considered on its own, there’s nothing wrong with the P226 and much that’s right.
But it’s behind the pack in detail accuracy, such as the blanked-off ejection port, non-operative slide catch and takedown lever. Such functioning details are commonplace on other replica pistols and set the P226 back by comparison.
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SIG SAUER P226
In Fifth Spot – SIG ASP Super Target
The SIG Super Target air pistol is marketed as being perfect for entry level target competition. That’s a precise description of what it delivers.
As a single-shot, single stroke cocking, pneumatic pistol, it’s a totally different animal to SIG’s range of other fast-firing, firearms replica airguns. Yes, it looks like a SIG P210, but this is a serious air pistol for serious use in 10 Meter competition, not a 6-Yard soda can shooter!
If you’re looking for a quality target air pistol to start competition without breaking the bank, this is a very good choice. It’s a HAM Gold Award winner.
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ASP Precision Super Target Air Pistol
Number Six – Glock 19 Gen 3
The Glock 19 CO2 BB gun offers great realism, high FPS, strong shot count, very good accuracy and a low price. It’s an easy HAM Gold Award winner.
Of course, many will want a blowback version. This is coming, but while blowback brings operational realism, it also usually takes away FPS, shot count and accuracy. For now and for the future, the Glock 19 CO2 BB gun is an outstanding replica of the iconic firearm.
It can be used as a firearms training tool or just a fun shooter. This is your chance to get a Glock for $70. Don’t miss out!
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Umarex Glock 19 Gen. 3 CO2 BB Air Pistol
Seventh Place – Weihrauch HW44
The only “non replica” in this list, the Weihrauch HW44 air pistol grows on you with use. It’s a very good airgun.
It’s also a highly-specialized one. It’s not really a plinker and most airgunners would not choose a pistol for hunting. It could, however, be an interesting choice for pistol Field Target competition.
Yes, it’s expensive – close to the same price as the rifle version. But for the money, you receive a superlative trigger, great accuracy with a wide range of pellets and a very interesting multi-shot, regulated, side lever PCP air pistol.
The Weihrauch HW44 air pistol is a clear HAM Gold Award winner!
This is an individualist’s choice. And don’t we all want something a little different sometimes?
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Weihrauch HW44 Air Pistol, FAC Version
Eighth Position – SIG Sauer P320 M17
The SIG Air P320 M17 air pistol is the latest and best pellet-firing air pistol from SIG SAUER.
It’s an outstanding replica of the US Army P320-M17 sidearm. There’s a strong blowback, drop-free magazine and it field strips realistically. CO2 cartridge loading is the easiest there is, due to SIG’s cam-loading system. Shot count was very good on test, as was accuracy.
The only minor downsides are the relatively low FPS and heavy trigger – at least in the sample tested by HAM.
Overall, the SIG SAUER P320 M17 air pistol easily wins a HAM Silver Award. It will make many owners very happy!
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SIG SAUER M17 Pellet Pistol
Nine – M1A1 Thompson BB Gun
The M1A1 Thompson BB gun is simply an amazing airgun. It combines extreme realism of appearance and operation with a very high shot count. That 96% HAM score equals that of the best we’ve ever awarded. It’s an obvious HAM Gold Award winner!
Buy one. And while you’re at it, buy a TON of BBs and CO2 cartridges. Get some spare magazines too.
You’ll have a huge amount of fun shooting this full auto reproduction of the iconic Tommy gun. We did 
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Legends M1A1 .177 Full Auto Blowback CO2 BB Gun 0.177
In Tenth Position – SIG Sauer P320 ASP
The SIG SAUER P320 ASP CO2 pistol is a good shooting training tool for users of the P320 firearm. It’s overall size, weight, balance and handling are strong suits. It’s also accurate, shoots to the point of aim with BBs and light pellets and is sufficiently powerful for the intended use.
The shot count is good, too, for a blowback pistol.
The 30-round magazine is a big step forward for pellet-firing CO2 pistols. HAM recommends this for pellet use, rather than BBs due to the relative ease of loading the magazine.
However, this is not such a strong model for CO2 pistol collectors. Many controls are non-operative, including the slide release, and the SIG SAUER P320 ASP CO2 pistol cannot be field-stripped, as can so many competing models. In this respect, the P320 trails its competitors.
But, in the end, this is a genuine SIG SAUER product, distributed and supported by the company. And that means a great deal to a huge number of people.
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SIG SAUER P320 Pellet Pistol, Coyote Tan
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