Consumables for airsoft guns

Gas or CO2 ?

This question is often asked when you're new to airsoft. There are some preconceived ideas, but there is no right or wrong choice. In fact, each type of propulsion has its advantages and disadvantages.

The main advantage of using gas is that it's easy to refill. All you need to do is buy and use a ready-to-use cylinder. Recharging takes place directly at the bottom of your charger, at the valve (or on the back of the charger, as on some models with this specific location). The main disadvantage of this type of drive is its low resistance to low temperatures.
To limit the risk of outgassing, it's important to carry out regular maintenance on your chargers, and more specifically on the valve seals, which can tend to wear out prematurely when they dry out. It is therefore important to use silicone lubricant regularly to prevent this kind of problem. You can also keep your chargers warm (in your pockets, for example) before your autumn or winter games to reduce the risks once again.
Finally, certain brands such as the famous Japanese manufacturer Tokyo Marui are renowned for producing quality replica fistguns with a good tolerance of low temperatures. The fact that these replicas are made from ABS plays a big part in this.

CO2 is not as easy to use as gas cylinders, because in most cases you have to unscrew a screw at the end of the magazine, insert the sparclette and strike it with a BTR spanner. In full action, this can quickly become complicated.
The second disadvantage is that during the summer, high temperatures can alter the power, increasing it to the point where it exceeds the power threshold authorised for airsoft games.
In winter, however, you won't encounter any degassing problems at low temperatures.
There are special maintenance CO2 cartridges containing silicone lubricant. These are ideal for quick cleaning simply by firing your replica handgun.

In any case, it's essential to give your airsoft replicas full and regular maintenance after your games or after long periods of inactivity to prevent any risk of damage or premature wear.