CO₂ Air Pistols & CO₂ Airguns in India

Quick answer

A CO₂ air pistol runs on a replaceable 12 g carbon-dioxide cylinder, so it fires semi-automatically with no cocking. In India a .177 CO₂ pistol under 20 joules needs no arms licence, but must be bought from an authorised dealer who records your ID. The Indian-made Camstar Star RX Gen 3 costs ₹25,500; imported Glock replicas cost ₹55,000+.

Buy CO₂ pistols & CO₂ supplies

Yes — .177 and under 20 joules needs no licence. Rule 84 of the Arms Rules 2016 requires a licence only for air weapons above 20 joules (15 ft-lbs) and/or with a bore larger than .177 inch (4.5 mm). An ordinary .177 CO₂ pistol is below both limits in every state.

No licence does not mean no rules.

• Sale must go through an authorised or licensed dealer that records the buyer’s ID and address — not a toy shop or an anonymous listing.
• Injuring someone with an air gun can be treated as hurt by a dangerous weapon (BNS s.118); brandishing it can be criminal intimidation (BNS s.351).
• Shooting birds or animals is an offence under the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972.

What is the price of a CO₂ air pistol in India?

The Indian-made Camstar Star RX Gen 3 CO₂ semi-automatic pistol costs ₹25,500 delivered (premium colours ₹26,500), the lowest price for a semi-automatic CO₂ pellet pistol in India. Imported CO₂ pistols cost more after duty: the Umarex Glock 17 Gen 4 BB pistol — the model in Khushboo Patani’s viral video — is listed at roughly ₹55,000–85,000, and imported Beretta, Walther and Glock replicas generally start around ₹35,000–45,000. Running cost is about ₹3–4 per shot for gas and pellets.

Is a CO₂ gun legal in India without a licence?

Yes, if it is .177 calibre (4.5 mm) and produces under 20 joules of muzzle energy. Rule 84 of the Arms Rules 2016 requires a licence only for air weapons above 20 joules and/or with a bore over .177 inch, so an ordinary .177 CO₂ pistol needs no arms licence. It is still regulated: it must be bought from an authorised or licensed dealer who records your ID and address, the buyer must be an adult, and using or brandishing it against a person can be a criminal offence under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

What is a CO₂ air pistol?

A CO₂ air pistol is an air pistol powered by a small cylinder of liquefied carbon dioxide, usually 12 grams. Piercing the cylinder releases gas at a steady pressure, and each trigger pull meters a dose behind the pellet. Because the gas does the work there is no spring to cock between shots, which is what allows a CO₂ pistol to be semi-automatic.

Which is the best CO₂ pistol in India?

For most Indian buyers, the Camstar Star RX Gen 3 (₹25,500): it is the only semi-automatic CO₂ pellet pistol made in India, full-metal, with 32 rounds across four 8-shot rotary magazines, about 400 fps, a 12-month warranty serviced from Lucknow, and spares sold individually. If you specifically want a licensed Glock or Beretta replica with a blowback slide, an imported Umarex model is the alternative, at two to three times the price and with dealer-dependent service.

Can a CO₂ air pistol be used for self-defence?

Only as a deterrent, never as a stopping weapon. A .177 CO₂ pistol produces a few joules — a 9 mm firearm produces around 500 — so it will not reliably stop a determined attacker. Its realistic value is that it looks and handles like a real pistol, which deters many opportunistic threats, and that it builds handling skill. Showing or pointing a realistic pistol to frighten someone can itself be criminal intimidation under the BNS, so keep it at home or out of sight.

How many shots does one 12 g CO₂ cartridge give?

About 30 to 60 shots, depending on temperature and pace. Warm weather and a 10–15 second pause between shots give the top of that range; a cold north-Indian winter morning or rapid fire gives the bottom, because expanding gas chills the cylinder and lowers its pressure. A five-pack of 12 g cylinders is ₹550 on camstarsports.com.

CO₂ pistol vs spring pistol — which should I buy?

Buy spring to learn, CO₂ for speed. A spring pistol (Star Leo ₹8,400, Mauser X ₹9,499) needs cocking every shot, costs nothing to run beyond pellets and teaches a deliberate routine. A CO₂ pistol like the Star RX Gen 3 fires as fast as you can aim with negligible recoil, which suits trigger-reset and rapid-fire drills, but it needs gas and loses some velocity in cold weather.

Can I buy a CO₂ pistol online in India?

Yes, from a seller who is authorised to sell air weapons and verifies your identity. Camstar is the manufacturer (Capital Airgun Manufacturers Pvt Ltd, Lucknow) and ships pan-India with a GST invoice, ID verification, a 12-month warranty and cash-on-delivery options; you can also buy through a Camstar dealer if you would rather see the gun first. Avoid any seller who does not ask for ID or will not give a GST invoice.

Do CO₂ pistols lose power in cold weather?

Yes — it is the one real drawback of the system. CO₂ pressure depends on temperature, so on a cold morning each shot is slower. The effect is mild in most of India for most of the year and noticeable in a Delhi or Lucknow winter. Spring and PCP airguns are unaffected.

Is there a CO₂ Glock that needs no licence in India?

Yes — a .177 (4.5 mm) Glock-style CO₂ air pistol under 20 joules needs no arms licence, unlike a real 9 mm Glock, which is prohibited bore. The Umarex Glock 17 Gen 4 (the pistol in Khushboo Patani’s video) is an imported BB replica at about ₹55,000–85,000; the Indian-made Camstar Star RX Gen 3 is a semi-auto pellet pistol at ₹25,500. Buy from a licensed dealer with ID, and keep it cased in public.

How should I store a CO₂ pistol?

Remove the CO₂ cartridge after each session and dry-fire once to vent residual gas — leaving a pierced cartridge in place holds the face seal under constant pressure and causes slow leaks. Store the pistol unloaded, locked, dry and away from children, with a light film of oil on exposed metal in the monsoon.