Air Pistols in India
Updated September 2026
Three pistols, built in Lucknow and Kanpur, from ₹8,400 to ₹25,500. All three sit under 20 joules of muzzle energy, which keeps them outside the Arms Act licensing regime entirely — no licence, no police verification, minimum buyer age 18.
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Specifications compared
| Model | Power system | Muzzle energy | Capacity | Ammunition | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Star Leo | Spring-piston | ~4 J | Single shot | .177 pellet | ₹8,400 |
| Mauser X Matte | Spring-piston | ~4.5 J | Single shot | .177 pellet | ₹9,499 |
| Star RX Gen 3 | CO₂ (12 g) | ~5.5 J | 32 (4 × 8 rotary) | .177 pellet | ₹25,500 |
All three are well under the 20-joule threshold in the Arms Rules 2016. The most powerful, the Star RX Gen 3, produces roughly 5.5 joules — about a quarter of the limit. Consumables: .177 match pellets ₹450 per tin of 300, 12 g CO₂ cylinders ₹550 for five.
How to choose
If this is your first air pistol
Buy the Star Leo at ₹8,400 or the Mauser X Matte at ₹9,499. Both are spring-piston: you cock the action, load one pellet, and shoot. Nothing to refill, nothing to run out of mid-session, and no cold-weather velocity drop. The Mauser X is the heavier of the two, which most shooters find steadier on a 10-metre target.
If you want rapid-fire practice
The Star RX Gen 3 at ₹25,500 is India's first semi-automatic CO₂ air pistol — 32 rounds across four rotary magazines, negligible recoil, and a trigger you can reset and re-break quickly. That makes it a genuinely different training tool from a single-shot spring pistol, not simply a more expensive one. A 12 g cartridge gives roughly 30–60 shots depending on temperature.
If accuracy is the whole point
Consider a rifle instead. A pistol has no shoulder or cheek weld, so group size is limited by how steady your hand is rather than by the gun. The air rifle range starts at ₹13,499 and the PCP models will out-shoot any pistol at any price.
Air pistol FAQs
Is an air pistol legal in India without a licence?
Yes, provided it produces under 20 joules of muzzle energy. The Arms Rules 2016 place low-energy air weapons outside the licensing regime of the Arms Act 1959, so an ordinary .177 sporting air pistol needs no arms licence, no police verification and no district-magistrate application. The buyer must be 18 or older. A small number of state notifications ask owners to intimate the local police station, so check your own state before ordering. Every Camstar air pistol is factory-tested well under the 20-joule threshold — the most powerful, the Star RX Gen 3, produces roughly 5.5 joules. Do not judge legality by calibre alone: the rule refers to muzzle energy and bore together, so check the specification of the individual model rather than assuming every .177 pistol qualifies.
How much does an air pistol cost in India?
Camstar air pistols run from ₹8,400 to ₹25,500. The Star Leo spring pistol is ₹8,400 and is the entry point. The Mauser X Matte at ₹9,499 is the best-selling model, with a heavier metal body. The Star RX Gen 3 at ₹25,500 is India’s first semi-automatic CO₂ air pistol and sits at the top of the range. Running costs are low: a tin of 300 match-grade .177 pellets is ₹450, which works out to about ₹1.50 per shot, and a five-pack of 12 g CO₂ cylinders for the RX Gen 3 is ₹550. Spring pistols have no gas consumable at all.
Which is better for a beginner, a spring or a CO₂ air pistol?
Start with spring. A spring-piston pistol like the Star Leo or Mauser X Matte has nothing to refill, cannot be left half-charged, and teaches the cock-aim-release routine that every other type builds on. It also costs a quarter of what a semi-automatic does. Move to CO₂ when you specifically want fast follow-up shots — the Star RX Gen 3 fires 32 rounds semi-automatically, which is a different discipline: trigger reset, recovery and rapid re-acquisition rather than one deliberate shot. CO₂ also loses velocity in cold weather as cartridge pressure drops, which spring pistols do not.
What is the difference between an air pistol and an air rifle?
A pistol is short, one-handed and stores easily, which makes it the natural choice for 10-metre practice at home. It is also the harder discipline, because there is no shoulder or cheek weld to steady it — everything depends on grip and stance. A rifle is heavier, far easier to shoot accurately, works out to 25 metres and beyond, and takes a scope on its dovetail rail. If you want one gun for the family, a rifle will frustrate you less. If you want to build a steady hand and compete in 10m air pistol, start with a pistol.
Can I buy an air pistol online in India?
Yes. Low-energy air pistols can be sold online and couriered across India. Camstar ships pan-India with dispatch in 2–3 working days, and cash on delivery is available at checkout on qualifying orders. Buying direct from the manufacturer means the warranty is handled by the people who built the gun, and genuine spares — seals, sights, levers, muzzles — remain available for the life of the product rather than only while a reseller happens to stock them.
What warranty comes with a Camstar air pistol?
Every new Camstar air pistol carries a 12-month manufacturing warranty via product registration. Because Camstar manufactures in Lucknow and Kanpur rather than importing, servicing and spare parts are handled in-house — individual components such as the Leo lever (₹79), pistol muzzle (₹79), front sight and butt O-rings are stocked as separate line items, so a worn part is a small purchase rather than a replaced gun.