Recommended quiet NBB pistols?

[ibo7]

I'm hoping this isn't a ridiculous question but I'd like a quiet pistol for garden plinking so it must be quiet; are all NBB pistols quiet or only specific silenced ones like the MK23?

What are peoples to recommendations for decent pistols of this type? Ideally under £150. If it helps I love Makarovs and 1911's but I'd consider anything

[Cannonfodder]

All non blow back pistols are quieter than GBB ones due to less moving parts. The mk23 just gets mentioned the most as they're the most easily available. Also being able to take a suppressor allows them to be even quieter.

 

Is there a specific model you're interested in?

[ibo7]

1 hour ago, Cannonfodder said:

All non blow back pistols are quieter than GBB ones due to less moving parts. The mk23 just gets mentioned the most as they're the most easily available. Also being able to take a suppressor allows them to be even quieter.

 

Is there a specific model you're interested in?

Any decent Makarov or 1911 would be nice, especially if it takes a silencer. Depends what's out there really, I just wanted some recommendations as it seems there's less NBB than GBB out there and I've never taken much notice of them

[GiantKiwi]

The split slide versions of Hi Capa's might be an option if you're set on 1911 ish designs. Less moving mass, so inherently quieter.

[Cannonfodder]

The range of nbb pistols is definitely a fraction of the size of the gbb market, I guess most people prefer blow back despite the disadvantages (and I'm certainly one of them). I don't think there are any nbb 1911s available but there is a Makarov

 

https://www.actionhobbies.co.uk/products/kwc-co2-makarov-airsoft-pistol-nbb/

 

I've no idea what they're like though.  I've never owned one as they're way too overpowered for skirmishing at over 1.5j but if you only want it for plinking that isn't an issue 

[BigAl]

Have you considered revolvers like the Dan Wesson 715 and th orange of Smith  & Wessons from Umarex.

Western Arms used to do some 1911 NBB which can still be found second hand occasionally, they are really Seecamp Double Action Converted 1911's.  There is also th excellent Tokyo MArui Range of NBB 1911 amongst others.

[ibo7]

18 hours ago, Cannonfodder said:

The range of nbb pistols is definitely a fraction of the size of the gbb market, I guess most people prefer blow back despite the disadvantages (and I'm certainly one of them). I don't think there are any nbb 1911s available but there is a Makarov

 

https://www.actionhobbies.co.uk/products/kwc-co2-makarov-airsoft-pistol-nbb/

 

I've no idea what they're like though.  I've never owned one as they're way too overpowered for skirmishing at over 1.5j but if you only want it for plinking that isn't an issue 

That's the Makarov I'd looked at, just not sure how quiet it is

17 hours ago, BigAl said:

Have you considered revolvers like the Dan Wesson 715 and th orange of Smith  & Wessons from Umarex.

Western Arms used to do some 1911 NBB which can still be found second hand occasionally, they are really Seecamp Double Action Converted 1911's.  There is also th excellent Tokyo MArui Range of NBB 1911 amongst others.

Yes I'd definitely consider a revolver, are they actually quiet?

I had an Umarex SAA pellet revolver before, great gun but wasn't back garden friendly due to the noise

[mightyjebus]

The Makarov isn't that quiet. It has quite a loud pop from the CO2. Quietest is the TM MK 23 with silencer attached. Used to run around Copehill at night and my giggling as I shot people was louder than the pistol. 

If you fancy branching into small form factor rifles instead of pistols, I reckon you could make a TM VSR 1 pretty quiet.

[Rogerborg]

Oh, is this for garden use rather than skirmishing?  The ASG Ruger is quiet, can be had for under £50, but comes in at 1.3J.  You can verrrry carefully file down the hammer to reduce that if you want to skirmish it.

 

If this is purely for slinging BBs at short ranges, you could also consider an AEP. Any of the CYMA AEPs will make more noise from the motor than the pop from the tiny cylinder.

[ibo7]

24 minutes ago, Rogerborg said:

Oh, is this for garden use rather than skirmishing?  The ASG Ruger is quiet, can be had for under £50, but comes in at 1.3J.  You can verrrry carefully file down the hammer to reduce that if you want to skirmish it.

 

If this is purely for slinging BBs at short ranges, you could also consider an AEP. Any of the CYMA AEPs will make more noise from the motor than the pop from the tiny cylinder.

I have a Cyma Glock AEP but its currently gathering dust as it seems the motor stopped working and it's beyond my capabilities to fix. It was a fun little pistol with the full auto but the trigger response was terrible, felt like a full second after pulling the trigger before a BB actually fired!

[ButcherBill]

23 minutes ago, ibo7 said:

I have a Cyma Glock AEP but its currently gathering dust as it seems the motor stopped working and it's beyond my capabilities to fix

The quietest pistol you'll ever have.

[Cannonfodder]

5 hours ago, Rogerborg said:

The ASG Ruger is quiet, can be had for under £50,

Those can be fun but my god is the trigger horrible

[Daveoc33]

49 minutes ago, Cannonfodder said:

but my god is the trigger horrible

So exactly like a mk23 then 😂

[THE CHIEF]

The ICS PM2 makarov is as quiet as the MK23. The only downside is that it doesn't have the after market support. The MK23 can be made to out perform everything. The PM2 scores very much on style and is a lot smaller. It takes a CO2 bulb but will chrono no problem. It has a very heavy trigger if you want to rapid fire it so it's better to cock the hammer with your thumb. If it had the same after market support as the MK23 it would probably be the go-to sniper backup but that doesn't look like it's going to happen. Still if you want something smaller than the MK23 and just as quiet, but don't need it to perform circumcisions at 70 meters it's an option. I like mine. I did buy the larger suppressor for it. And the magazines are little sticks that are very easy to store. 

[Cannonfodder]

1 hour ago, Daveoc33 said:

So exactly like a mk23 then 😂

It's worse. Even heavier than the mk23 and double action only

[ibo7]

3 hours ago, THE CHIEF said:

The ICS PM2 makarov is as quiet as the MK23. The only downside is that it doesn't have the after market support. The MK23 can be made to out perform everything. The PM2 scores very much on style and is a lot smaller. It takes a CO2 bulb but will chrono no problem. It has a very heavy trigger if you want to rapid fire it so it's better to cock the hammer with your thumb. If it had the same after market support as the MK23 it would probably be the go-to sniper backup but that doesn't look like it's going to happen. Still if you want something smaller than the MK23 and just as quiet, but don't need it to perform circumcisions at 70 meters it's an option. I like mine. I did buy the larger suppressor for it. And the magazines are little sticks that are very easy to store. 

I watched a review of it yesterday, looks awesome and perfect but not in stock anywhere. Is it really as quiet as the MK23?

[Anonymoose]

2 minutes ago, ibo7 said:

I watched a review of it yesterday, looks awesome and perfect but not in stock anywhere. 

 

https://www.actionhobbies.co.uk/products/ics-pm2-non-blowback-pistol-black/

 

https://www.firesupport.uk/ics-pm2-non-blowback-pistol-nbb-black.html

 

 

Edited yesterday at 19:29 by Anonymoose

[ibo7]

5 minutes ago, Anonymoose said:

 

https://www.actionhobbies.co.uk/products/ics-pm2-non-blowback-pistol-black/

 

https://www.firesupport.uk/ics-pm2-non-blowback-pistol-nbb-black.html

 

 

I stand corrected🤣🤣

Somehow my Google search ignored them.

It's a shame the silencer sits above the front sight post so open sights can't be used

Edited yesterday at 19:34 by ibo7

[Cannonfodder]

10 hours ago, ibo7 said:

It's a shame the silencer sits above the front sight post so open sights can't be used

I think that's problem with all Makarovs as the sights are tiny and it's a relatively small pistol.

[ButcherBill]

20 hours ago, ibo7 said:

It's a shame the silencer sits above the front sight post so open sights can't be used

Psst... it's airsoft, prob wouldn't hit what you aimed at anyway. will still be fun for plinking tho.

[Tackle]

46 minutes ago, ButcherBill said:

Psst... it's airsoft, prob wouldn't hit what you aimed at anyway. will still be fun for plinking tho.

Even if you did, would they take the hit 🤬

[THE CHIEF]

On 06/07/2025 at 20:27, ibo7 said:

I watched a review of it yesterday, looks awesome and perfect but not in stock anywhere. Is it really as quiet as the MK23?

A stock MK23 and socom supressor yes. If you start adding 3d printed stuff and fart flaps the MK23 is probably a touch quieter. But as I say I use the longer supressor on mine. It's quite nifty with proper baffles and cones inside. But we tested it at the receiving end and you couldn't tell someone was shooting at you.