How to Build an Airsoft Gun out of Household Objects

Last Updated: September 16, 2021

A homemade Airsoft gun can be constructed in a couple of ways -- either with your own breath as a source of power or an air compressor. Either method will take a matter of minutes and will result in a powerful tool. See Step 1 below of your preferred method to begin.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Quick and Easy

A small container with cap (medicine bottle, 35mm film container, small soda bottle, etc.) Drill with 5/16" drill bit	Hot glue gun (optional) A plain, straight-tubed ballpoint pen Airsoft pellets or BBs

1
Drill 2 holes in a small container. An old pill bottle, a film container, a plastic bottle of Coca-Cola, whatever you have lying around (with a lid!) will do. Be sure to wash it first, though; you'll be putting the side of the bottle in your mouth.
- One hole needs to be centered on the bottom and the other centered on the side.
- A 5/16" drill bit is best for a standard pen, but it can vary. Choose a drill bit that matches the width of your pen, as the pen will be inserted through the hole shortly.
2
Deconstruct a regular pen. You know, the kind they give you at hotels and seminars for free. A straight-tubed, not fancy, ballpoint pen with no frills. There are three steps to this:
- Unscrew the cap surrounding the ink point.
- Take out the guts -- the ink, the spring -- to create an empty barrel for your BBs to fly through.
- Ram out the lid at the top with a screwdriver or other slim, pointed object.
  - A sturdy straw will also do the trick.
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3
Insert the pen into the hole in the bottom of your container. It should protrude about 1/2" (1.25 cm) into the inside of the container. A regular pen should fit fairly snugly into a hole drilled with a 5/16" bit.
- It's a good idea to hot glue the barrel to the bottom of the medicine bottle. Just put a ring of glue around the pen where it meets the edge of the container. This way no air will escape, pressurizing your BBs.
4
Unscrew the cap and put some BBs inside. A little less than half full is ideal.
5
Blow in the hole in the side and watch the BBs come out the barrel. Experiment with distance and aim -- you should be able to go a considerable distance away (the length of your garage, say) and still maintain direction and velocity.
- Do not inhale with your mouth up against the container. You could inhale pellets and choke. Instead, take a breath away from the gun and then blow inside.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using an Air Compressor

A soda bottle with cap 1/4" quick-release air compressor adapter Drill	Air compressor blowgun 7mm x 6" long brake line Airsoft pellets or BBs

1
Thread the adapter into the blowgun and remove the nozzle. By blowgun, we mean one that attaches to an air compressor -- not a blowgun you would use to throw poison darts into your nearest enemy. Screw the adapter in until it's sturdy and tight.^{[1]
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- The nozzle of the blowgun (where it would connect to the tube of an air compressor) will twist out counterclockwise.
2
Drill a hole into the side of the soda bottle. It should be about 1" (2.5 cm) below the bulge in the top of the bottle. It should also match the size of the nozzle of the blowgun that you just threaded out.^{[2]
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- If you refer the method above, you'll see that a regular pen requires a 5/16" drill bit. Your nozzle is probably just a bit bigger than that.
3
Insert the nozzle into the hole from the inside. This is the trickiest part:
- Put the nozzle into the bottle.
- With a metal file or other similar, long, thin object, pick up the nozzle.
- Place it snugly into the drilled hole, threaded part sticking out.
4
Screw the blowgun into the nozzle. Keep the metal file supporting the nozzle so the weight of the blowgun doesn't dislodge it. Be patient as you thread the blowgun onto the nozzle.
- Once it's tightened, the blowgun should be sturdy and unmoving. At this point, the soda bottle and blowgun base should be as one.
5
Drill a hole into your bottle cap. It needs to match the size of your brake line. It's better to start off a bit smaller and have to make it bigger -- though you could always easily find another bottle cap.^{[3]
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6
Thread the brake line onto the bottle cap. Pull the line through so the entire tube is through the cap, bolts and nut on the exposed end.^{[4]
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- If available, it's wise to seal the drilled hole on the cap with hot glue. This will also hold the line in place, creating a foolproof vacuum.
7
Fill the bottle with Airsoft pellets. About halfway is ideal.
8
Screw the barrel in place and attach to an air compressor. Make sure everything is sealed up nice and tight and attach the base of the blowgun to your air compressor.^{[5]
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- Alternatively, you can also use a backpack air supply to fuel your gun.
9
Fire away! Your gun is ready to start decimating. Just unscrew the barrel to refill with pellets.

Community Q&A

Question

Can I put the air hole in the back bottom of the container instead?

Community Answer

Yes, that works well, too. I did that, and it shot a little better.
Question

I don't want to carry an air compressor with me. Is there some alternative to the air compressor?

Community Answer

An air soft HPA tank. It's a tank of compressed air. This is used by many airsoft players.
Question

Can I shoot gel balls (7mm) with this?

Anon ymous

Community Answer

You might be able to, but only if you use a 7mm barrel, as the gel balls just cannot fit in the 6mm tube.

Warnings

Don't inhale any BBs!

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Things You'll Need

Quick & Easy Method

A small container with cap (medicine bottle, 35mm film container, small soda bottle, etc.)
Drill with 5/16" drill bit
Hot glue gun (optional)
A plain, straight-tubed ballpoint pen
Airsoft pellets or BBs

Using an Air Compressor