GAS AIRSOFT GUNS
HUGE SELECTION OF GAS AIRSOFT GUNS
HUGE SELECTION OF GAS AIRSOFT GUNS
Gas Airsoft guns are powered by compressed gas. Several variants of gas are available and listed in order of pressure from lowest to highest, they are HFC134a, Green Gas, Red Gas, and Black Gas. Some Japanese guns can only handle the lower pressure HFC134a gas, but higher pressure green gas airsoft guns are by far the most common in the world. Gas airsoft guns are also classified into non-blowback (NBB) and gas blowback pistols (GBB), and gas blowback rifles (GBBR). NBBs do not have visible moving parts, while GBB pistols have slides that cycle automatically on each trigger pull, mimicking the actions of a real pistol. Instead of a cycling slide, GBBRs have a bolt that moves back and forth like a real rifle. This cycling action creates both a visual and sensory experience of a real gun.
Most popular gas pistols include Airsoft Glock pistols, 1911 Airsoft Pistols and the Desert Eagle Airsoft Pistols. VFC is a leading brand for excellent gas pistols and rifles, while GHK is viewed as the king of gas blowback rifles. Tokyo Marui is recognized as the best for pistols and rifles, and is most famous for their Tokyo Marui Hi Capa series and Tokyo Marui M4 gas blowback rifles for solid performance and a huge parts market for modifications and upgrades.
- VFC Colt M16A2 GBB Airsoft Rifle (Licensed by Cybergun) VF2-LM16A2-BK01Special Price $424.99 Regular Price $499.99
Green gas airsoft guns rely on compressed gas, called “green gas,” to function. Several green gas airsoft guns are classified as gas blowback, meaning the bolt or slide recoils back like the real thing. While green gas airsoft guns cost more than your average spring-powered or electric airsoft gun, they introduce a more realistic and entertaining experience on the airsoft field.
What Is Green Gas in Airsoft?
Green gas is a compressed gas often used in airsoft to provide the force necessary to propel BBs down range at your opponents. In contrast to CO2, green gas chemically resembles propane. However, unlike propane, green gas incorporates silicone lubricant.
Other types of gas exist in airsoft, including HFC134a, red gas, and black gas. Green gas has more pressure than HFC134a but less than red or black gas, as black gas holds the highest pressure. Gas pressures are important because some countries or fields do not allow air guns powered by high-pressure air (HPA).
For example, many Japanese gas-powered airsoft guns can only use HFC134a since it’s the lowest-pressure gas available. However, most airsoft guns available worldwide take green gas or CO2. You can learn more about green gas and the best airsoft gas for your platform by checking out the other resources on our blog.
Green Gas vs. Other Types of Airsoft Guns
Green gas airsoft guns contain gas reservoirs either in the gun body itself or the magazine. These reservoirs often make gas airsoft gun magazines heavier than automatic electric gun (AEG) magazines.
However, airsoft players frequently gravitate toward gas airsoft guns because they offer a more realistic playing experience than airsoft AEGs or spring airsoft guns despite a higher price point.
Gas blowback (GBB) airsoft guns are powered by green, red, or black airsoft gas. These platforms replicate the recoil felt using the real-steel versions, but you can also achieve a similar feeling with an electric blowback (EBB) pistol. These electric pistols use batteries instead of green gas, which suffers from cool-down effects and is susceptible to lower temperatures.
Gas airsoft guns often shoot in semi-auto or full-auto, depending on the individual platform. Many new airsoft players choose to run a green gas pistol because they’re easy to operate, refill, and manipulate on the field, especially in close-quarters combat (CQB) scenarios. However, gas airsoft guns can be loud, so adding suppressor adapters can help better conceal your position.
Are Green Gas Airsoft Guns Safe?
Green gas airsoft guns can be slightly more complicated than standard spring-powered airsoft guns or AEGs. You must pay attention to the gas levels and recognize when they’re getting low by the corresponding drop in your airsoft gun’s performance.
However, you don’t have to cock the gun every time like a springer or call it quits if you forgot to plug your batteries in a charger like with an AEG.
What Are Some Pros and Cons of Green Gas Airsoft Guns?
Green gas airsoft guns have several advantages and disadvantages:
Pros
Some of the benefits of green gas airsoft guns include:
- Realistic operation and shooting action
- More character and more memorable shooting experience than other types of airsoft platforms
- Cheaper running costs than CO2
- Easily top off a partially full gas reservoir
Cons
That said, green gas airsoft guns can also have certain downsides, such as:
- Green gas can be hard to find outside of airsoft stores
- Responds to cold weather with a drop in performance
- Flammable
- Gas magazines can be heavy
- Proper refilling techniques require a learning curve
How Does Green Gas Work?
Green gas airsoft guns store the green gas inside the gun itself or within a removable magazine. When you pull the trigger, a hammer (or knocker) contacts the valve and releases a small amount of pressurized gas before the valve closes once more.
That small amount of gas propels the ammo down range at several hundred feet per second (FPS). In GBB models, the gas released also works the slide (for gas airsoft pistols) or the bolt (for gas airsoft rifles) and loads another BB.
When using green gas, keep it out of direct sunlight. If you want to use standard propane, you need to add silicone oil, as it doesn’t come pre-mixed. Propane is also flammable, so take precautions to prevent any safety hazards.
If you want to upgrade your green gas airsoft gun, a new hop-up, nozzle, and bucking can make a difference. Choosing a higher-grade inner barrel will also help your green gas airsoft gun group better. Note that the hop-ups, buckings, and nozzles for gas airsoft guns differ from those for AEG platforms.
What Are the Main Types of Green Gas Airsoft Guns?
Most gas airsoft guns are classified as non-blowback (NBB) and gas blowback (GBB). An NBB gas airsoft gun doesn’t have the characteristic recoil often associated with gas guns. It’s a great alternative if you want to use green gas to power your airsoft gun but don’t want the realistic recoil during gameplay.
You’ve probably come across GBB airsoft guns with the acronyms GBBP and GBBR. These stand for gas blowback pistols (GBBP) and gas blowback rifles (GBBR).
Here are several common types of green gas airsoft guns:
- Gas Blowback Airsoft Pistols
- Gas Airsoft SMG
- Gas Airsoft Rifles
- Gas Airsoft Sniper
- Gas Airsoft Shotgun
You can also find several gas airsoft machine guns and airsoft grenade launchers at RedWolf. Some of our most popular brands include KWA, Action Army, EMG, and Elite Force.
What Are Some Popular Green Gas Airsoft Platforms?
Some of the most popular green gas airsoft guns are pistols and rifles, but gas shotguns can also be a lot of fun.
Here are a few of our favorite picks:
- If you’re a fan of Glock, we’ve got plenty of options, from RWC and Strike Industries to the Umarex Glock 17 Gen 5 GBB airsoft pistol.
- Any 1911 gas airsoft pistols we sell are a worthy sidearm for sniper rifles, from Tokyo Marui’s variant to the RWA Nighthawk Custom War Hawk.
- Dominate any close-quarters skirmish with an airsoft Desert Eagle customized to suit your style of gameplay, or choose capable off-the-shelf variants like the Cybergun Desert Eagle L6 .50AE GBB Airsoft Pistol or the Golden Eagle Hi Capa 5.1 GBB Airsoft Pistol.
- Explore a new brand of GBBRs with GHK, known for its realistic replication of many popular platforms like the M4 GBBR Airsoft V2.
- VFC commands a solid reputation in the airsoft world, and build quality is evident in everything from their MK20 SSR GBB Airsoft Rifle to the 1911 Kimber LAPD SWAT Custom II Green Gas Airsoft Pistol.
- If it’s a gas airsoft shotgun you’re after, the Tokyo Marui SAIGA 12K Gas Blow Back Shotgun or the Tokyo Marui M870 Wood Stock Type Airsoft Shotgun.
If you’re curious to learn more about green gas airsoft guns, check out our list of the top 10 best gas airsoft guns. There, you’ll also find technical articles, like how to do airsoft gun maintenance. The next time you need anything airsoft-related from your wishlist, RedWolf’s got you covered.
Gas Airsoft Guns
Gas Airsoft guns are powered by compressed gas. Several variants of gas are available and listed in order of pressure from lowest to highest, they are HFC134a, Green Gas, Red Gas, and Black Gas. Some Japanese guns can only handle the lower pressure HFC134a gas, but higher pressure green gas airsoft guns are by far the most common in the world. Gas airsoft guns are also classified into non-blowback (NBB) and gas blowback pistols (GBB), and gas blowback rifles (GBBR). NBBs do not have visible moving parts, while GBB pistols have slides that cycle automatically on each trigger pull, mimicking the actions of a real pistol. Instead of a cycling slide, GBBRs have a bolt that moves back and forth like a real rifle. This cycling action creates both a visual and sensory experience of a real gun.
Most popular gas pistols include Airsoft Glock pistols, 1911 Airsoft Pistols and the Desert Eagle Airsoft Pistols. VFC is a leading brand for excellent gas pistols and rifles, while GHK is viewed as the king of gas blowback rifles. Tokyo Marui is recognized as the best for pistols and rifles, and is most famous for their Tokyo Marui Hi Capa series and Tokyo Marui M4 gas blowback rifles for solid performance and a huge parts market for modifications and upgrades.
What is a Gas Airsoft Gun?
Gas Airsoft guns are powered by compressed gas that is charged into the gun’s magazine or gas reservoir. They typically shoot semi-auto or full-auto and can be either non-blowback (NBB) or gas blowback (GBB). GBBs are by far the more popular variant because they are more fun to shoot. Gas blowback pistols have slides that will cycle back and forth automatically on each trigger pull, whereas on a gas blowback rifle, the bolt will do the same. The purpose is to create the visual and physical sensation of shooting a real gun. On pistols that have heavy slides or rifles that have heavy bolts, the recoil sensation can be quite pronounced, especially if the gas gun can accept higher pressure gasses. Gas guns can also be very loud, and screwing on a suppressor to the end of the barrel can indeed make them more quiet for stealth mode. For more information, read our blog on What is Green Gas Airsoft.
Pros and Cons of Gas Guns?
PROS | CONS | |
Very realistic operation and shooting action | Airsoft gas is harder to find and usually only available at Airsoft stores | |
Gas airsoft guns have more character and offer a more memorable shooting experience compared to other types of airsoft guns | Performs poorly in cold weather compared to CO2, electric guns or spring guns | |
Cheaper running costs than CO2 | With the exception of HFC134a gas, airsoft gas is flammable so should be handled with care | |
Can top up a partially full gas reservoir easily | Refilling properly can require some practice |
Gas Guns Vs Electric Guns: Is One Better Than The Other?
We often get asked “Is a gas or electric airsoft gun better?”. Gas airsoft guns and electric airsoft guns have very different benefits. Which one is better depends on what you intend to use them for. Electric guns use a battery that drives a motor, which then works through a ratio gearbox to compress a stiff spring that generates air compression to shoot a BB. That means they are very stable and can run all day with very little change in power levels and accuracy. Their design lends well to higher capacity magazines that require less reloading. This makes them perfect for long game days where you just need something reliable that can keep shooting for as long as you hold down the trigger. But you need to plan ahead to charge batteries, which means it’s harder to play on a whim unless you keep your batteries always charged. The shooting experience on most electric guns is also a little underwhelming compared to gas guns, although some electric guns such as the Tokyo Marui Recoil Shock series simulates recoil electronically.
Gas guns use compressed gas to push the BB out, but gas is inherently sensitive to temperature changes and each gun can only store a limited amount of gas before you need to refill it. You can carry spare magazines, but gas magazines can be quite heavy. You cannot hold down the trigger on a gas gun for more than 5-10 rounds before you feel a drop in power and a slowdown in cycling time. This is due to gas cool down effects so you need to be mindful with your shots when playing with gas guns. The upside is they are a lot of fun to shoot and feel much more like a real gun than electric guns. Gas guns are perfect for people who want something more realistic.
Are Gas Guns More or Less Expensive Than Other Airsoft Guns?
Gas pistols are generally quite affordable and make great beginner guns. Some gas guns cost less than USD 100 while higher quality gas pistols can cost up to USD 200. Electric pistols come in two forms; Electric Blowback Pistols (EBB) and Automatic Electric Pistols (AEP). EBBs run on AA batteries and are designed for junior shooters and can cost less than USD 50, while AEPs are more advanced and deliver better performance. Entry level electric rifles will cost up to USD 200, but better quality ones can cost more. Gas airsoft rifles generally cost more than electric guns, often in the USD 400 - USD 500 range or more. Having said that, gas rifles are much more realistic in build and function compared to electric rifles. Running costs of electric guns is lower since you need to spend more on batteries initially, but recharging them is quite cheap. Gas guns however require you to purchase airsoft gas, much like buying petrol for a car, and this can add up over time.
Gas guns are also more expensive than spring airsoft guns, which are the cheapest to operate. Keep in mind there are many kinds of gas guns like gas airsoft sniper and gas airsoft shotguns which can cost a lot more.
Collectors can consider some extremely high end gas pistols made from steel, such as from RWA.
Useful Gas Guns Resources
If you’re considering buying a gas airsoft gun, use these Redwolf Resources for more information.
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Best Airsoft Gas: https://www.redwolfairsoft.com/blog/best-airsoft-gas
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How to Refill a Gas Airsoft Gun: https://www.redwolfairsoft.com/blog/how-to-refill-a-gas-airsoft-gun
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Green gas vs CO2: https://www.redwolfairsoft.com/blog/green-gas-vs-co2
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How to Clean Gas Airsoft Guns | How to Clean a Gas Airsoft Rifle: https://www.redwolfairsoft.com/blog/how-to-do-airsoft-gun-maintenance
10 Best Gas Airsoft Guns: https://www.redwolfairsoft.com/blog/10-best-gas-airsoft-guns