Whether you’re looking for a replacement or an upgrade, knowing what battery to buy for your Airsoft gun can be overwhelming. With so much on the market and so much to take into account, it can be hard to know which choice is right for you and your airsoft gun.

That’s why we’ve made this handy guide to help you better understand which batteries are available and what will work best for your Airsoft gun.

If you’re in the market for a new Airsoft gun battery, then head on over to our store where we stock a range of Airsoft accessories including guns, ammunition and batteries, all at great prices.

What Airsoft Gun Do You Have?

Before you even begin looking at the airsoft batteries available, you need to double-check what kind of gun you have. If you’re using a gas or spring airsoft gun, then you’re not going to need a battery or a charger for it.

Airsoft batteries are only needed if you’re using an electric-powered gun, commonly referred to as an AEG (automatic electric gun).

The model and style of the weapon are also important to take into account when you’re looking for a new battery. You need to be wary of if your airsoft gun is going to fit the battery in the front or the back.

You should also consider whether you need a Ni-MH or Li-Po as both guns have their own advantages and may not be compatible with every airsoft gun.

Things To Take into Account When Choosing an Airsoft Battery

As well as the type of gun you have and the battery type you’re leaning towards, there are some other things you should be taking into account before buying your new airsoft battery.

Battery Capacity

An important thing to note when you’re looking through the vast amount of batteries available is the amount of energy they can store. This will be called the mAh. What mAh battery you need essentially comes down to how trigger happy you are with your airsoft gun.

  • Do you like a constant BB stream?
  • Do you only take the shots that count?

While it can be tempting to just go for the battery that offers the highest capacity for ultimate power, you should also make sure the battery will actually fit on your gun. The more mAh a battery has, the bigger it’s going to be.

Most airsoft batteries are around 1500mAh. This should last about a full day’s shooting and will fit with most regular stocks as well. Always be sure you buy yourself a backup battery as well. After all, what’s worse than being caught out before games end with no power?

Battery Voltage

The next thing to consider is just how much power you can put through your airsoft gun’s motor. Different batteries will have different voltages; for example, NiMH batteries can be either 8.4V or 9.6V, whereas LiPo batteries tend to be 7.4V or 11.1V. Do check the requirements of your gun, as while some can take 11.1V, the maximum safe voltage for most guns is usually 9.6V.

Always consult with your gun's official manual before buying a battery to ensure you’re getting the best possible for your model.

Battery C-Rating

The final thing to take into account before we get to the nitty-gritty about specific airsoft batteries is the batteries’ C-rating. This is the discharge power for the specific battery and can typically be found next to the battery’s voltage number. Most airsoft batteries will have a C number of between 10c-25c.

Simply put, the higher the C-rating, the quicker your fire rate and trigger response. While this will immediately sound cool, it’s worth noting that using a battery with a higher C-rating can lead to the battery running out of charge much quicker.

Always make sure you check the manual for your airsoft gun as many models won’t be able to take a battery with a C-rating above 15c.

When it comes to choosing your next battery, it’s a matter of personal need. Do you want to shoot wild and fast and take out as many opponents as possible, or are you more of a sit and wait kind of shot?

What are Ni-MH Airsoft Batteries?

If you’ve already started looking at the different batteries available, then chances are you’ve come across the abbreviation of Ni-MH. This means the battery is a Nickel-Metal Hydride Battery.

These batteries are very similar to a standard set of rechargeable AAA batteries and can last between 1-2 years, even if recharged regularly. However, they’re not made to be recharged quickly, so if you have a fast charger, then it’s very possible your battery could end up overheating before they’re fully charged.

Ni-MH Airsoft batteries are going to self-discharge when they’re not in use, especially if they’re somewhere warm. If you want your Ni-MH battery to have a longer life span then it’s a good idea that you don’t deplete them every time you use them. However, they should be fully discharged occasionally.

While these batteries are still very much on the market (like this Nuprol 9.6v 1600mah NIMH Nunchuck Crane Stock Type Battery), the Airsoft community have begun to move away from the standard Ni-MH batteries in favour of the more current Li-Po batteries.

What are Li-Po Airsoft Batteries?

A Li-Po — or a lithium-ion Polymer Battery — is a rechargeable battery made with lithium-ion technology. If this sounds familiar, it’s because Li-Po batteries are also commonly used in modern mobile phones.

Unlike the cylindrical cells of the Ni-MH batteries, a Li-Po airsoft battery comes as a pouch or soft package. They also tend to be much smaller and lighter than other battery types.

However, Li-Po batteries are also known to have a higher capacity to density rating which means these kinds of batteries will last longer than a similar sized Ni-MH, despite using up less space.

Li-Po batteries are usually more popular with the more advanced or experienced Airsoft skirmishers as they come with a host of advantages (such as a higher discharge rate and rate of fire) but can be easily broken. Signs of a broken Li-Po battery include, damage to the packaging, dents in the battery, puffing, releasing smoke or a smell of leaking electrolyte. If your LiPo exhibits any of these signs please dispose of it in a safe manner to avoid the risk of fire.

If a Li-Po battery is fully discharged, then it can cause the cells to no longer accept a charge. To avoid this, take the battery out when your airsoft weapon is not in use. You should also remove the battery if you notice that your rate of fire drops suddenly and dispose of the battery safely if it puffs up.

There’s a lot to take into account when choosing your replacement battery, but we at Surplus Store are always happy to help! You can view our full range of Airsoft Gun Batteries here, or get in touch with us to find your perfect fit.