CO2 air pistols are reshaping sports gun training

The sports gun market is being pushed by CO2-powered air pistols that make practice feel closer to live-fire shooting. The Business Research Company says the category is on track to top $4 billion by 2030, with Asia-Pacific and the U.S. driving much of the growth.

Why it matters: - CO2-powered air pistols are making training more realistic for recreational and competitive shooters. - The trend is supporting demand for sports guns that improve accuracy, handling and user experience. - The shift matters because training-focused products are becoming a bigger part of a market forecast to exceed $4 billion by 2030.

What happened: - The Business Research Company released its Sports Gun Global Market Report 2026, covering market size, trends and forecasts through 2035. - Airsoft Gun India launched the ASG CZ P-09 CO2 air pistol in January 2025 for shooting practice and sports training. - The ASG CZ P-09 has a realistic build, supports pellets and BBs, and includes blowback action. - The report says Asia-Pacific will be the largest regional market by 2030, while the U.S. remains the largest single-country market.

The details: - The sports gun market is projected to surpass $4 billion by 2030. - The broader Sporting Goods Stores market is expected to reach about $398 billion by 2030, with sports guns representing roughly 1% of that total. - Within the retail and wholesale industry, sports guns are projected to account for nearly 0.003% of a $124,634 billion market by 2030. - The overall market is forecast to grow at a 7% compound annual growth rate through 2030. - Asia-Pacific is projected to grow from $0.7 billion in 2025 to $1.1 billion in 2030, at a 10% CAGR. - The U.S. market is projected to rise from $0.8 billion in 2025 to $1.0 billion in 2030, at a 4% CAGR. - Rifles are expected to hold the largest firearm-type share in 2030 at 41%, or about $1 billion. - Pistols, revolvers, rifles, shotguns, carbines and other types are projected to add more than $1.05 billion in market value from 2025 to 2030. - Rifles are projected to add $0.4 billion, pistols $0.3 billion, shotguns $0.2 billion, revolvers $0.1 billion, carbines $0.03 billion and other types $0.02 billion. - The market is segmented by material type, caliber, distribution channel and application. - Material segments include steel, aluminum, polymer and others. - Caliber segments include 0.38 caliber, 0.38 special, 12 gauge and 9 mm. - Distribution channels include gun stores, sporting goods stores and online platforms. - Applications include training and demonstration and recreational sports. - Beretta Holding S.A. led the market in 2024 with a 5% share. - Sturm Ruger & Company Inc. also held a 5% share in 2024. - Smith & Wesson Brands Inc., SIG Sauer and Glock Inc. each held 4% shares in 2024. - The top 10 companies generated 32% of revenue in 2024. - The market is moderately concentrated, with competition shaped by regulation, licensing, precision engineering and performance demands.

Between the lines: - CO2 air pistols fit a broader market shift toward training products that mimic real shooting conditions without the same operational barriers as traditional firearms. - Growth in Asia-Pacific points to rising investment in shooting ranges, clubs, Olympic-level training and manufacturing hubs in China, Japan, South Korea and India. - The U.S. market remains anchored by competitive leagues, modern training facilities, licensed clubs and structured marksmanship programs. - Reported growth drivers also include higher disposable income, leisure spending, urbanization, better living standards and expanding sports culture. - The report estimates these factors contribute about 2.0% annual growth from shooting-sports participation, 1.7% from technology advances and 1.4% from disposable-income gains.

What's next: - Manufacturers are likely to keep investing in precision, ergonomics, safety features and recoil reduction. - Competition should intensify as companies expand dealer networks, develop new products and move into more regions. - The report expects demand to rise further from structured tournaments, virtual training systems, licensed academies and range modernization. - The Business Research Company says its 2026 reports also include market attractiveness scoring, TAM analysis, company scoring matrices, forecasting dashboards and trend analysis.

The bottom line: - CO2-powered air pistols are becoming a visible growth driver in sports guns because they make training more realistic while fitting a market that is expanding across regions, formats and product types. - More information is available in the full report.