Gas Powered CO2 Airsoft Guns & Blowback Pistols

Gas blowback weapons, commonly referred to as GBBs, are the most realistic shooting airsoft guns. They use a liquid form of gas stored in a reservoir (either inside a magazine or via an external tank) to provide the power for the gun. In most GBB weapons a hammer falls when the trigger is pulled, striking the gas release valve on the outside of the magazine. A small amount of liquid is released which instantly turns into gas. From this point, the gas is divided to propel the BB and blow the slide back. Although the power and strength of the recoil depends on the type of gas used, the force of the recoil is usually compared to that of a .25 caliber handgun. So, the recoil isn't tremendous, but is enough to make shooting fun and realistic. The world of GBBs can be very confusing to someone new to the sport of airsoft. There are many gasses, different manufacturers, and much to know about general maintenance, all of which I hope to explain later in this guide.

Gas is the source of power behind gas blowback weapons. Although there are many gasses of different compositions, the two most popular gasses are HFC134a and green gas. HFC134a is the lowest powered gas and is meant for use in Japanese GBBs. HFC134a can be found at HERE. HFC134a is also chemically the same as 1,1,1,2 Tetrafluoroethane or duster gas. Duster gas, also known as PC duster, or keyboard cleaner can be found at almost any electronic store or office supply store. The only difference between Japanese gas and duster gas is that Japanese gasses contain lubricant to maintain the internals of the GBB. However, this is easily remedied with 100% silicone oil sold at most hobby shops. Taiwanese gas, also known as green gas is for use in Taiwanese GBBs. It has more power than HFC134a, which creates stronger recoil and greater muzzle velocity. So, there is a trade off of power for durability of the GBB.

There are many manufacturers of airsoft gas blowback weapons. These manufacturers each have qualities that make their products worth owning, and there is really no manufacturer that can be said to be better than all others. Tokyo Marui, famous for its automatic electronic guns (AEGs) also produces GBBS. Ho Feng make excellent beginner GBBs, and can be found HERE. KSC and Maruzen are well-developed companies, and our known for their quality GBBs. Western Arms and Tanaka are higher in quality, and therefore are higher in price too. KWC and Kuan Ju Works (KJW) are the higher quality Taiwanese GBBs. KWC has two grades of GBBs regular/lightweight and super/heavyweight. KJW is another Taiwanese manufacturer that is said to use Japanese parts in their guns while being assembling them in Taiwan. Just remember that every manufacturer has its advantages, disadvantages and design flaws. The best thing to do is decide on a type of gun instead of limiting oneself to a certain manufacturer.

Maintenance and care of gas blowbacks can be confusing, so here is a list of things to remember.

1. Do NOT use Taiwanese green gas in stock Japanese GBBs. If Taiwanese gas is used in Japanese GBBs, metal slides and upgraded valves should be installed. Also, when installing a metal slide the extra weight of it may make it necessary to use Taiwanese gas to provide crisp blowback.

2. When using duster gas, remember to put a few drops of 100% pure silicon oil in the magazine fill valve before filling it with duster gas.

3. It is usually a good idea to keep the hop-up on a GBB well oiled to prevent the BBs from rolling out of the barrel, and keep the GBBs range and accuracy.

4. Be careful with GBBs, and buy a good holster that covers the gun. Although some have been known to take complete submersion in water, others are very sensitive to dirt.

5. After every skirmish, completely disassemble the gun, clean off dirt from the internals and apply oil to all moving parts and all places the gas will come in contact with (if using duster gas)

6. If Taiwanese gas is to be used in Japanese GBBs but the durability of a gun is an issue, try mixing Taiwanese gas with duster gas. This is easily done by filling some of the magazine with one gas, then filling the rest with the other.

7. Only use 100% silicon oil when oiling GBBs. Do not use petroleum based oil. It can warp the rubber seals and cause problems with the internals and the gun's performance.