My favorite toy gun was a snub nosed .38. Chrome with a black handle. It had spring loaded, hard plastic bullets. We had round caps that fit on the shell. The bullet would launch when struck. Great sound, and fairly accurate. Mine was confiscated a few days after Christmas after I broke a glass ornament on the Christmas tree.
I had one too, a Colt 45 cowboy pistol. I could have probably been put thru college with the cost of as many rolls of caps I got at the hardware store on Saturdays, with Dad.