To investigate the mechanical properties of rocks under moderate to low velocity impact loadings, quasi-static and dynamic uniaxial compression tests of red sandstone samples were conducted using MTS and drop weight impact test facilities. A series of stress-strain curves in the strain rate range of 10^-2~10^1.7 s^-1 was obtained. The results show that under medium to low strain rate loading conditions, the deformation of sandstone experienced typical compaction stage, elastic deformation stage, unstable crack propagation stage and brittle failure stage. As the strain rate increases, the peak stress and its corresponding strain as well as the residual strain of specimens increase and the failure mode of sandstone transits from shear breakage to splitting breakage. The enhancement of the dynamic strength was governed by the combined effects of thermal activation and macro-viscous mechanisms. The evolution laws of the total and the elastic strain energy absorbed by sandstone during the deformation process were similar to each other. It was further found that the strain rate effect on the elastic strain energy was more remarkable compared with that on the dissipated strain energy.