Buying Guide: Airsoft Gas Types

Buying guide - Gas types

Gas is used to power Airsoft Gas Blowback and Non-Blowback Gas Guns and comes in various forms. Gas-powered Airsoft guns are a popular choice because of either the blowback feature, adding an extra level of realism for the player, or in the case of non-blowback replicas, the distinct advantage in stealth gained by using a gun that makes as much noise as a mouse fart. Gas used for Airsoft comes in several varieties, providing different power levels for use in different ambient temperatures, giving you an option to give your GBB and NBB replicas the best chance of maintaining good performance when the weather gets colder. 

Maintenance gas - Abbey 144a Maintainance Gas

Maintenance gas is basically low-powered gas with additional silicone lubricant mixed in. Not intended for use in skirmishes (though it will still work) this gas is generally used post skirmish, as firing off a mag of this will coat the gas route bucking, blowback unit, and other gas-bearing internal parts in silicone lubricant, ensuring the O-rings and seals stay fresh prior to storage. We recommend that regardless of your gas choice, you run some maintenance gas through your gas-powered Airsoft gun after every extended firing session. 

Low powered / Summer Gas - Abbey 144a Predator, Nuprol 1.0 Premium

Low-powered gas is primarily designed for use in GBB replicas with plastic slides, NBB replicas to bring the fps down to a skirmishable level (in some cases), and all replicas when the ambient temperature is exceedingly high. If you intend to skirmish in hot weather, we recommend that you use low-powered gas as this will minimize the risk of damage, as when the temperature does up, the pressure of your gas will also go up, potentially beyond the design parameters of your Airsoft gun. This gas is likely to give you sluggish performance in the winter, a side effect of its lower pressure optimized for use in higher temperatures. 

Green Gas - Nuprol 2.0, ASG Ultrair, VORSK v8 / VORSK v6

Green gas is the most popular type of airsoft gas used. This gas usually comes in tins, and magazines can quickly be refilled via a valve in the bottom. Green gas is essentially Propane, but with different mixture levels of other gasses and lubrication. Typically, with Green Gas power and the effects of cooldown vary from Brand to Brand. A decent middle ground that should see most Airsoft gas replicas performing in all but the most extreme temperatures, we recommend Green gas to fuel the vast majority of the gas-powered Airsoft guns we sell.  This is the most common type of gas in airsoft, as it is the easiest and quickest to fill the magazines, and requires the least amount of maintenance.

Propane

As a more economical alternative to green gas, Propane can be used to fill Airsoft Pistol Magazines. Commercial Propane bottles such as those used for Propane torches can be used to fill Airsoft gas magazines when an adaptor is purchased. Propane is essentially Green Gas but without any lubricant or other gasses mixed in. This is usually slightly more powerful than the average Green gas and copes slightly better with cool down. This comes at a price, the trade-off being an increased wear on guns and extra maintenance. We recommend either the use of Maintenance gas together with propane if you choose to go this way, or the use of neat 100% silicone oil on the fill valve and gas route bucking before every fill and after every extended firing session. 

Power up gas - Nuprol Extreme 3.0, Nuprol Ultimate 4.0, Guarder Power-up gas, VORSK V12

Power-up gas excels during the winter months, keeping your GBB chugging away despite near-freezing temperatures. It is also useful for pistols with heavier slides, or GBB rifles with strong recoil springs and steel bolt carriers. Power-up gas generally has a similar composition to green gas, with added lubricant to ensure that your pistol's seals and o-rings stay fresh and battle-ready. We don't recommend using this gas in warmer weather, unless you are having issues with slow cycling or you have a pistol with a particularly heavy slide, such as some steel slides. There is nothing physically stopping you, but using stronger gas in high temperatures can cause excessive wear to your pistol, shortening its life span, and potentially damaging your magazine's gas seal parts. 

CO2

CO2 is commonly used in airsoft pistols due to its low cooldown rate. CO2 is most commonly supplied in 12g Bulb format and is placed directly into the magazine. CO2 bulbs come in both threaded and non-threaded varieties and it is important that you purchase the correct kind for your replica. The vast majority of CO2-powered pistols use non-threaded 12g bulbs. Once a CO2 bulb is spent, it must be replaced. CO2 has the benefit of a slower cooldown rate and higher power when compared to green gas, but is the slowest to re-fill due to having to unscrew the bulb for replacement. CO2 can often have higher FPS than other power sources, so be careful about using your CO2-powered replicas in high temperatures. CO2 also shares the maintenance issues with Propane, and you will need to add some silicone oil to the tip of the capsule (the part that is punctured) the inside of the magazine, and the gas route bucking on the top in order to keep a CO2 powered replica healthy in the long term. 

FAQ - Gas Magazines

Can I use Propane in Green Gas Magazines?

Yes, Green gas and Propane are essentially the same things, and the magazines are filled the same way. You have to be aware however that as Propane can be more powerful it may decrease the lifespan of the airsoft gun, and magazines will require increased maintenance.

Can I use CO2 in Green Gas Guns?

Typically, the magazine which comes with an airsoft gun will define what kind of gas you can use in a pistol. There are however some exceptions, where you can buy both Green Gas magazines and CO2 Magazine for WE EU-Series Pistols. You should never attempt to fill a Green Gas magazine with CO2, even when using an adaptor. This will overfill your magazine causing damage and possibly risking explosion(CO2 is stored in a bulb at 4x the pressure of typical green gas!).

What is the difference between CO2 and Green Gas Magazine?

CO2 is typically more powerful, so less is required than compared to green gas, this means that CO2 valves will release less gas than Green Gas magazines. CO2 Magazines also generally have a cut out for the bulb instead of an internal gas reservoir and as such can be easily visually identified. 

Should I use CO2 or Green Gas in my Pistol?

Check the magazine which comes with your airsoft gun. If it takes a bulb you will have to use CO2, if it has a fill valve you will have to use Green Gas. Whilst there are refillable bulbs available capable of taking Green gas (NOT CO2!!) these are often incompatible with Airsoft magazines and can be unreliable, and as such we do not recommend their use.