8 Best CO2 Pistol For Self Defence(No License Required-May 2024 Guide)

Self-defence is very important, especially in today’s world where you cannot trust anyone. Since owning a real gun needs proper licensing and permits, a CO2 air pistol can be a great option for self-defence and they don’t require any permits or documents to own. Due to their high FPS and power, they can easily give a painful hit to the intruder which is enough to scare them off. Moreover, real gun situations might go even worst if any fatalities happen but with CO2 guns that’s not the case. From thousands of CO2 pistols from around the globe, we have handpicked a few best co2 pistols for self defence that you can own for your security. These guns are chosen based on various parameters like FPS, ammo used, realism, and material which makes them perfect for the use safety.

You can also check our guides on the best .22 pellet for hunting and the best .177 pellets for pistol.

Best CO2 Pistol For Self Defence-Quick Look

Best CO2 Pistol For Self Defence-Detailed Look

1. Crosman 2240 Bolt Action CO2-Powered .22 Pistol

⭐ BEST .22 PELLET PISTOL

• Action: Bolt Action
• Barrel Material: Alloy Steel
• Frame material: plastic
• Caliber: .22 pellets
• Power: 12g CO2 cartridge
• Velocity: Up to 460 fps
• Weight: 1.81 Pounds
• Ambidextrous

Crosman 2240 bolt action is a single-shot CO2-powered .22 pistol. Due to its bolt action, this gun is perfect for pest control as well as for self-defence.

The loading and cock process is super fast due to its bolt design. The ergonomically designed grip is ambidextrous which means both left, as well as right-hand people, can easily use the gun.

The balance provided by the gun is amazing due to its perfect hand fit. You need to keep a stock of CO2 cartridges with this gun which is one of the downside of this pistol.

The FPS of the gun is 460 which makes it very powerful and perfect for self-defence without offering serious injuries. This gun makes use of .22 caliber pellets.

The gun provides extra accuracy due to its steel barrel design. The convenience of this gun is much higher than manual cocking as it is powered by compressed gas. This gun is also a good choice for target practice.

The targetting with this pistol can be improved with the help of its pair of iron sights. Although, you might need some practice before you are able to target accurately.

The reason why I choose Crosman 2240 as the best CO2 pistol for self defence is that it makes use of bolt action which provides a powerful shot.

2. Gamo Pt-85 Blowback Pellet Pistol for self-defence

⭐ STRONGEST AIR PISTOL FOR SELF-DEFENCE

• Action: Semi-automatic blowback action
• Barrel Material: alloy steel
• Frame material: plastic
• Caliber: .177 caliber
• Velocity: Up to 450 fps
• Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Capacity: 16-round magazine
• Ammo-PBA pellet
• System: Block back system

The Gamo guns undergo tough tests and trials before finally being presented to the market. Gamo Pt-85 is one of the strongest air pistols for self-defense to due its strong and durable material.

The gun has one of the most realistic designs too which makes it look like a real gun. It is so realistic that sometimes attackers get scared just by seeing it and there is no need to shoot even.

Though all the parts are not made of metal, plastic is too very durable and strong. This gun makes use of 177 pellets which receive power from a CO2 canister.

A 16-round magazine loads all the pellets. Each side of the magazine loads 8 pellets. You have to turn the magazine after you shoot 8 pellets in order to access the other 8 pellets.

What makes it more realistic is its blowback system that exactly replicates the recoiling like the real gun. For better aiming, this gun is equipped with a fixed reflective white dot sight.

The full potential of the gun can be seen with the use of platinum pellets. Due to its realistic look, this gun makes its place in the list of best co2 pistol for self defence.

3. Crosman Vigilante Air Pistol Kit with Holster and 3-Pack CO2 Magazines

• Action: Single & double action
• Barrel Material: alloy steel
• Frame material: plastic
• Caliber: .177 caliber
• Ammo: Pellets and BBs
• Capacity: 80-100 shots per cylinder
• Velocity: Up to 435 fps
• Extra 10-shot pellet clip
•  Extra 6-shot BB clip

This gun is one of the best deals as it comes with a holster along with magazine clips. Holster helps you in carrying your gun conveniently without any hassle and public attention. This pistol also includes four pellet clips along with one B clip.

The gun provides unbelievable quality and that too at a very affordable rate. You can extend the longevity of the seal and avoid air leakage by applying pellgun oil to the mouth of the CO2 cylinder.

This gun supports both BBs and pellets. One CO2 cylinder allows you to take 80-100 shots which is pretty impressive.

Though this gun can be used as both single action as well as a double-action revolver but using it as a single-action revolver makes it more precise.

The sights are very effective and you can adjust the sight according to your convenience. You will get a pre-adjusted sight with the gun which will help in maintaining accuracy instantly.

You will also get an extra 10-shot pellet clip and a 6-shot BB clip. The gun makes use of 0.177 caliber pellets.

4. Crosman 2300S air pistol for self defence

⭐ BEST .177 PELLET GUN

⭐ HIGHEST FPS PELLET GUN

• Barrel Material: alloy Steel
• Frame material: plastic
• Caliber: .177 caliber
• Ammo: Pellets and BBs
• Velocity: Up to 520 fps
• Weight: 2.7 Pounds

Crosman 2300S is one of the best choices for self-defence as it provides an extremely powerful FPS of 520 ft/sec with its single-shot mechanism. This pistol is one of the most powerful pistols on our list.

Considering its power and accuracy, this gun is available at the right price. This gun was introduced as a competitive entry-level shooting gun after the company developed it along with the partnership of competition shooters.

This gun will accurately hit the mark. The reason for the accuracy of the gun is that it is equipped with a 10.1 Lothar-Walther match barrel. The gun makes use of 0.177 pellets which are perfect to hurt the person without seriously injuring them.

You will get around 60 shots per CO2 cylinder. The gun provides 2 power levels one is high(520 fps) and the other is low(420 fps) due to its adjustable hammer spring.

The trigger provides adjustable pull from 1 to 4 lbs. The holding style doesn’t put pressure on your hand due to its textured grips with thumb rests present on both sides.

The accuracy is amazing through its extended bolt probe. The operation is super convenient as the stainless steel bolt has a longer handle.

This gun is equipped with a front sight, which sat over an aluminum muzzle. On the rear part, the gun has Williams sight which every air gunner desires.

5. Glock 19 Gen3 .177 Caliber BB Gun Air Pistol

⭐ BEST CO2 BB PISTOL

⭐MOST REALISTIC AIR PISTOL

• Barrel Material: allow Steel
• Frame material: plastic
• Caliber: .177 caliber
• Capacity: 15 shots
• Ammo: steel BBs
• Velocity: Up to 410 fps
• Weight:1.85 Pounds
• Fixed Glock-style sights
• Integrated Weaver rail

Even though the gun makes use of .177 pellets, this gun is super accurate and powerful. This gun looks super realistic as it is a replica of the Glock 19.

This gun is also a great practice gun for those who want to use a real Glock. The design of the gun is very sleek and compact. You will find an integrated weave rate at the front portion of the gun which will help you in attaching your favorite laser or flashlight.

Another great feature of this gun is that the trigger arrives at its original position after each shot and you don’t have to pull the slide after the shot.

The lower part of the gun is made up of plastic but other parts such as the trigger, magazine, and magazine release are composed of metal. The gun offers 390-400 FPS which is no doubt higher than the pistols at the same price.

The gun makes use of 3 magazines of BBs in one CO2 canister. Another amazing feature of the gun is that it’s super silent. Due to this, the gun can be even used in residential places.

You will even get adjustable sight which most of guns don’t offer at this price range. The 16-round universal metal-stick magazine is a universal magazine and can be used with any pistol.

It is preferred to use steel BBs rather than copper-coated BBs since they are smaller in size. Flashlights and lasers can easily be attached to the front of the gun. This gun provides mind-blowing performance and power at a very affordable price with amazing realism.

6. Daisy Unisex Powerline 415 Pistol Kit

• Action: Semi-automatic
• Caliber: .177 bb
• Barrel: Steel
• Velocity: 500 Feet Per Second (Fps).
• Ammo: BBs
• Weight: 0.93 Pounds
• Capacity: 21-shots per canister
• Kit includes shooting glasses, targets, 350 ct. BB tube and three CO2 cylinders

In the BB gun category, the daisy 415 is one of the most popular guns. The capacity of the gun is 12 BBs at a time. Per CO2 cylinder this gun can shoot 150 shots. This pistol is equipped with a smooth bore steel barrel.

The build quality of this gun is amazing and is made to look like a real gun. What makes it a good self-defence gun is its 500 FPS power which can give an intruder a painful hit.

From the front, the gun is made up of a blade and ramp with its rear sights fixed open which helps in increasing the accuracy.

Due to its semi-automatic nature, the gun will save a lot of your time as compared to single-shot guns. You will also receive shooting glasses along with three CO2 cylinders which is an excellent combo and make it the best value for money deal.

The gun is designed with proper safety features. One such feature is its Manual trigger block safety mechanism that blocks sudden blasts. The quality of the gun can be identified through its smooth bore steel barrel. It is also one of the best co2 pistol for self defence in the BB category.

If you are in search of a reliable world-class BB pistol, then you must definitely try our daisy powerline 415 BB pistol.

⭐ HIGHEST FPS BB GUN

7. Daisy 5172 Power Line CO2 Pistol Kit

• Action: Semi-automatic
• Caliber: .177 bb
• Barrel: Smooth bore steel max
• Velocity: 520 Feet Per Second (Fps)
• Ammo- BBs
• Capacity: 21 shots per canister
• Weight: 1.866 lbs.
• Kit includes shooting glasses, Daisy Precision Max 350 count BB tube, 3 twelve-gram CO2 cylinders

What makes daily 5172 people’s favorite is its 520 FPS which is great for a self-defence pistol. This powder is stored in a very compact size gun and at a great price.

The upgraded version of daisy powerline 415 is daisy 5172. You will get a complete kit of safety goggles along with CO2 canisters which makes it a perfect value-for-money combo.

The rails are detachable and can be removed if you don’t like them. For continuous shooting, the gun has 21 shots, which will further help you concentrate without doing regular reloads.

For situations where there is almost no time to reload such as a sudden animal attack, this gun will be greatly helpful. The gun will save lots of time of cocking and loading as it makes use of CO2 canisters.

Various features are provided in the gun to make it more beginner’s friendly. One such feature is its blade and ramp feature on the front sight which helps in targeting accurately even if you are a beginner.

For additional safety, the trigger has lock back mechanism. This machine is great for long target shooting and can show the accuracy at 255 yards. The gun has a smooth barrel as it is polished with bore steel. This is for sure one of the best co2 pistol for self defence.

8. Smith & Wesson M&P 40 .177 Caliber BB Gun Air Pistol

• Caliber: .177 bb
• Velocity: 410 Feet Per Second (Fps)
• Frame material: metal
• Ammo: steel BBs
• Power: 12g CO2 cartridge
• Capacity: 19-shot BB magazine
• Weight: 1lbs
•  Have integrated accessory rail
• 19-shot drop-free mag included
• fiber optic sights included

Smith & Wesson is one of the most underrated air guns that are available in the market and the design is inspired by the newest S&W designs. This gun makes use of .177 caliber steel BBs as ammo which provides a very painful hit if shot from a close distance.

What makes it one of the best CO2 pistol for self defence is its 410 FPS which indicates its high muzzle speed. You will get many free pieces of stuff with the gun such as a 19-shot drop-free mag, and fiber optic sights. Sights will help you in increasing the accuracy.

You can attach any of your favorite gun accessories with its integrated accessory rails which allows you to attach tactical lights and lasers very easily and conveniently.

The gun is powered by 12-gram CO2 cartridges which are located in the holding area. This gun is also amazing for training purposes.

The structure of the gun is super durable as it is made up of metal which is not generally seen in guns at this range and provides it with a more realistic look.

Popular Comparisons

What is the best air gun for home defense?

One of the best gun that you can use for home defence is Crosman 2240 Bolt Action. This gun provides accurate aiming with its iron sights and its bolt action provides a powerful hit.

What is the highest velocity pellet pistol?

The highest velocity pellet gun is the Crosman 2300S air pistol. This gun provides an FPS of up to 520 which makes it very robust. The gun makes use of .177 pellets. Moreover, this gun is equipped with a Williams sight which helps in increasing accuracy.

What’s the strongest air pistol for self-defense?

The strongest air pistol is Gamo Pt-85 pistol. This gun can be used for many purposes such as self-defence, hunting practice, pest control, etc. The gun is equipped with many advanced features which every shooter wants in their gun.

Questions and Answers

Parameters of a Good CO2 pistol for self defence

FPS

FPS stands for feet per second.FPS tells about the muzzle velocity of the gun. Muzzle velocity simply means the velocity of the bullet while leaving the gun. Higher will be the FPS more will be the muzzle velocity. A high FPS gun will release bullets will high velocity which will hurt more to the intruder if we look at the self-defence aspect. For a CO2 pistol, an FPS of anywhere between 400 to 500 is perfect for protection though the actual FPS of the gun is a bit lesser than the claimed FPS. If you want FPS higher than that then you need to look for PCP or break barrel pistols.

Realism

The looks of the gun can play a vital role in your protection. It is seen that 90% of the intruders stop their planned or unplanned attack by looking at a realistic-looking air pistol. The most realistic gun on our list is Glock GEN 3 19. For mechanism-wise realism, you can choose a gun that works on a blowback mechanism that provides the feel of a real gun.

Ammo type

There are 2 types of ammo that you can choose from, pellets and BBs.BBs are round-shaped ammo that is composed of steel or plastic. Pellets have a more aerodynamic design which helps them travel far away distances. For defence purposes, pellets are more effective as they provide more impact on the skin. Pellets are more expensive and you can choose BBs if you are on a tight budget as they too perform pretty well for self-protection purposes.

which one is better-pellet or BB?

For defence purposes, both types of ammo as long as you don’t want to kill the intruder. Both can give a painful hit if shot with proper accuracy which will for sure scare off the intruder. Talking about the power, pellets are more powerful compared to BBs.Since pellets have an aerodynamic design they can fluently travel long distances.

Though BBs shot through CO2 gun are just a little behind when it comes to powder. Though I largely feel that accuracy is subjective but the spinning effect of pellets which is provided by the gun barrel adds some accuracy by reducing the effect of air and debris. One drawback of BB is that it comes in one standard caliber which is .177.

Is .177 or .22 better?

This question is pretty common and one of the most debated questions in the shooting community. Both .177 and .22 have their own sets of pros and cons.

Both are useful in their own way.0.22 caliber pellets have more weight as compared to .177 pellets therefore they have more kinetic energy and more stopping power. Whereas, due to the lightweight of .177 pellets, they can travel to far-off places.

Now the question arises which is good for self-defence? According to me, for self-defence 0.177 caliber pellets are better as they have less surface area, therefore, they can hit more painfully and scare off the intruder.

Also, due to its lightweight, it is easy to hit a faraway intruder as 0.177 pellets travel a little far as compared to 0.22 pellets. A .177 pellet traveling long-distance will have more energy and power as the point of terminal velocity will be delayed and hence won’t lose its velocity.

Can a .22 stop an intruder?

Yes,.22 pellets are effective in keeping the intruder away keeping in mind that you aim accurately. Don’t lose your accuracy during your adrenaline rush. If a .22 pellet is shot from a close distance directly into the head, it might penetrate the skin of the intruder. A painful hit from a CO2-powered .22 pellet will definitely keep the intruder away.

Can air pistols kill?

There have been cases when the shooter shot the person with an airgun from a close distance which resulted in lethality. If the shot is accurately made into the head or other sensitive parts of the body, it might kill the person.

The lethality of an airgun comes with its muzzle velocity. High muzzle velocity will result in a powerful shot which will provide a more painful hit. A gun providing 400 muzzle velocity and using steel BBs or lead pellets can easily penetrate the skin.

An air pistol has the full potential of harming the eyes to such an extent that the person loses his vision. Therefore, make sure you always wear protection goggles for safety.

What is blowback on a gun?

A blowback action is one that uses an unlocked bolt and uses the recoil to operate the action. The weight of the bolt and the recoil spring holds the bolt after the action is unlocked.

This mechanism lacks a locking mechanism. The major advantage of using a blowback action pistol is its simple operation, reliability, cost-efficient, and ease to manufacture.

In addition, in a blowback pistol, there is no need for the barrel to move, and the pistol can be made with the barrel firmly fastened to the frame. This increases the accuracy of the gun to multiple folds.

The blowback feature is pretty common in .22 pellet guns and it provides a more realistic feel to the airgun. One drawback of the blowback feature is that it makes use of a little more CO2.

Conclusion

Here we come at the end of our article with the title “best co2 pistol for self defence”.We really hope that you have found this article helpful. These guns are the ideal choices for self-defence purposes due to their considerable high FPS and make sure to use these pistols responsibly. If you have any doubts or confusion you can leave them in the comments. Thanks for visiting leanoutdoor.com.