A toy projectile launcher pistol having a handle with an internal projectile storage area; at least one pair of inwardly biased resilient flaps; an air piston assembly having a barrel and a plunger element; a sliding handle coupled to the barrel, the sliding handle and barrel being movable between a forward position and a backward position; a compression spring that biases the plunger element against a rear wall in the toy projectile launcher pistol; and a latching assembly that couples the plunger element to a trigger assembly when the sliding handle is moved to the backward position, and the trigger assembly, upon toggling, releasing the coupling of the latching assembly between the plunger element and the trigger assembly.