Test: GSG-9 Airsoft in 6mm BB, the GSG-9 AEG replica from German Sport Guns

German Sport Guns, or GSG for short, a firearms manufacturer based in Ense in the Sauerland region of Germany, has been offering a series called the GSG-9 in 9mm Luger since 2024. One of these 9mm guns is the GSG-9 pistol caliber carbine. Looking at the history of the company, which owes its current success in particular to the production and sale airsoft guns, it seems only logical that it now also offers an airsoft version of the GSG-9.

The GSG-9 Airsoft comes in a sturdy polystyrene packaging with a cardboard lid adorned with a large photograph of an operational scenario: special forces rappelling from a helicopter against the backdrop of a rising sun. The elaborately designed packaging shows that GSG has not only airsoft players in mind here, but also fans and collectors of such guns. This raised our expectations for the authenticity of the 6mm BB GSG-9, which is well protected in precisely fitted compartments within the box, along with the included accessories. We'll return to the topic of authenticity later. First, let's look at what's included.

GSG-9 Airsoft AEG: scope of delivery and variants

In addition to the gun, the box contains a 250-round magazine, a cleaning rod, the operating instructions and a bag with enough BBs to fill the first magazine. What is still missing for shooting is a suitable 7.4 V LiPo battery and the corresponding charger. This airsoft replica is in fact an S-AEG gun: "AEG" stands for Automatic Electric Gun and the "S" in front of it stands for semi-automatic. The gearbox in the GSG-9 Airsoft is a high-quality metal contruction.

According to the manufacturer, the test gun has a maximum energy of 1.3 joules: in Germany it can be purchased only by people with a minimum age of 18 years and comes as semi-auto only. This brings us to the main difference to the variant with a muzzle energy of less than 0.5 joules, which can also be found in the GSG catalog: this is considered a toy that does not fall under the relevant provisions of the German gun laws, can be used as a pure AEG – i.e. also in fully auto mode – and can be purchased in Germany from the age of 14. Both versions are available at a price of 229 euros (RRP) .

Details on other electronic components of the GSG-9 Airsoft

In addition to the S-AEG system, another electrical component, a MOSFET system, ensures a fast trigger response. The electronics of the GSG-9 Airsoft also have a voltage meter to prevent deep discharge of the battery. The test gun is powered by a 7.4 V LiPo nunchuck battery with Deans connectors. Nunchuck here means that the battery consists of two separate rod-shaped cells that are connected to the Deans connector via the connection cable. A one-piece 7.4 V LiPo battery does not fit between the barrel and handguard of the GSG-9, which serves as a battery compartment. But even with the two-piece battery – as with many other such electrically powered airsoft guns from various manufacturers  –  it still takes a certain amount of fiddling until the battery is inserted in such a way that the handguard can be reattached without pinching the cables.

Authenticity: how close is the GSG-9 Airsoft to the original 9mm GSG-9 Rifle?

In terms of appearance and dimensions, the GSG-9 Airsoft and its 9mm counterpart could be identical twins. No wonder, since German Sport Guns, as the manufacturer, has the exact blueprints for the 9mm version. No wonder, since German Sport Guns, the manufacturer, has access to the exact blueprints for the 9mm version. There are only marginal differences in the external dimensions, but although some details do differ in certain elements, that only becomes apparent upon closer inspection. For example, the shroud tube that surrounds the smoothbore 6mm brass barrel of the airsoft gun is a few tenths of a millimetre thinner than the barrel of the GSG-9 Rifle in 9mm Luger. Incidentally, the brass barrel for the BBs has an effective length of just under 23 cm (9"). At the front, the shroud tube barrel is topped by a dummy flash hider, which in turn was modelled on the flash hider of the 9mm version.

The other components such as the receiver, handguard, magazine well, grip and the two-part Picatinny rail, which is 330 mm long overall and sits on top of the gun , are also identical to the original – although in the airsoft model, the receiver, magazine well and grip come in one piece and are molded together. On the other hand, the open sights, which in this case consist of an adjustable rear sight and a bead front sight with protective ears, are identical in both variants. The charging lever can be switched from the left (factory position) to the right side, and unlike the original, the replica can do this without the use of tools. However, the MIM part of the airsoft version differs from the charging lever of the 9mm version due to its flattened and textured grip. Furthermore, the charging lever on the airsoft version does not serve its intended function, but instead moves a cover in the "ejection port", beneath which lies the hop-up adjustment slider, easily operated with a fingernail. The hop-up can be used to influence the trajectory curve and thus also the height of the BB's point of impact.

Other differences in detail include the type and number of grooves around the flash hider and the markings on the safety or fire selector and safety lever. The manufacturer apparently uses the same injection mold for the AEG version as for the S-AEG model, which also has A, F and S positions, but only allows single shots in both the A and F positions. The 9mm version is known to only have the positions "S" for safe and "F" for ready to fire. The same design is used for the collapsible stock, which can actually be locked in four positions.

GSG-9 Airsoft S-AEG technical specifications and price

Test firing the GSG-9 Airsoft in 6mm BB from German Sport Guns

We filled the magazine from the 2,000-pellet bulk bottle with a good load of 0.2 g organic BBs from the GSG 9 series. Thanks to a small flap on the top of the magazine, this is no problem and you don't need a speed loader. To get the BBs in front of the feeder opening, however, you have to turn a wheel on the underside of the magazine a few times until you feel resistance and the BBs have reached the top.

Finally, we shot from a Bulls Bag placed on a table about seven and a half meters away, sitting with the rifle supported, at a 10-ring Diana target from the GSG range. To our delight, the windage adjustment of the open sights was perfect right from the start; the first few shots were just a little low. However, this was quickly corrected by adjusting the hop-up setting, so that the shots landed in the center of the target.

These shots then consistently fell within the 25-mm diameter 9-ring, and most of them could even have been scored as 10s. A verification of the muzzle velocity (V0) values ​​using a Garmin Xero-C1 Chronograph, based on 10 shots fired in rapid succession, revealed velocities between 353.0 and 357.9 fps (feet per second), which corresponds to 107.6 m/s and 109.1 m/s in continental measurements. The average of all 10 test shots was 108 m/s (354.4 fps), which translates to a muzzle energy of 1.17 joules. These are values ​​that would be respectable on any airsoft field

The all4shooters.com review of the GSG-9 Airsoft

With the GSG-9 Airsoft, the manufacturer has not only attached great importance to authenticity, but also to handling that is as true to the original as possible. At a price of €229, the airsoft player and fan gets a replica of the GSG-9 rifle that is largely true to detail. The parts used in the airsoft version have a high-quality finish and are robust. The Picatinny top rail and M-LOK handguard offer plenty of options for customising the GSG-9 Airsoft with optional accessories and other attachments. The handy airsoft gun modelled on the GSG-9 pistol caliber carbine is certainly not only an eye-catcher on the playing field, but also as part of an airsoft gun collection.