This latest new player video features Patrol Base Pete and Patrol Base Mike, who are here to discuss one of the most important topics to anyone who owns a Gas powered Airsoft replica: The differences between all the main Airsoft Gas Types. Hopefully this is the information you don't really hear a lot about through regular social media channels like YouTube or Facebook. We're going to be trying to hit the questions which people feel too stupid to ask, but don't worry, there is no such thing as a stupid question in Airsoft: we were all new players once!
In the video we will discuss various types of gas. Although there are many variants of propellant for airsoft guns they all fall under three main categories: Co2, HPA, and the most popular Green Gas and Propane.
If you're thinking about getting yourself a Co2 powered weapon chances are it's going to be powered by a co2 bulb. These are usually inserted into the bottom of the magazine or into the pistol grip and are screwed into the gun until the top of the cartridge is pierced therefore releasing the co2.
Co2 is usually favored during the colder months of the year because it's less affected by temperature, but just bear in mind that if you try and use it in the warmer months of the year it could actually produce more power in the gun than your game site will allow. This is due to the increased gas expansion due to the heat, which will produce more power when fired.
One of the things to look out for when using Co2 bulbs is to make sure that it pierces completely when inserting it into the mag and also make sure you don't over tighten it otherwise you could cause damage to the valve.
Always make sure the bulbs are fully emptied before trying to take it out of the magazine otherwise you'll have yourself a homemade co2 launcher. Since the Bulb Cap / Screw is the only thing holding it in place then the bulb will try to escape any way it can, usually towards you if you're not careful.
Another type of gas is 'HPA' which stands for High Pressure Air. These types of guns are usually powered by a pressurized bottle which is fed into a regulator which controls the amount of air or gas escaping from the bottle in a very consistent manner and then that feeds into the rifle and pushes the BB through the barrel. The release of air is controlled inside the weapon either by a mechanical system, or more popularly via a digital Fire Control Unit which can be programmed to various different modes.
HPA replicas are usually very consistent, and they're less effective if at all by temperature which means you can run it pretty much all year round.
The only disadvantages to HPA is that you might be carrying a big bottle around with you at the same time, the fact they have to be specially filled, and that they can be an expensive outlay. But, if you want performance, and the best kit money can buy, HPA is the way to go, and is sometimes even more consistent than AEG replicas!
Typically as a beginner you probably won't encounter this kind of system unless it's other guys at the field. Generally it's either a gas rifle that's been modified to accept a remote line or an out-of-the-box solution such as a mechanical Tippmann M4 or a digitally controlled PolarStar to name a few
Now for the slightly more complicated topic of Airsoft Green Gas. Whilst Airsoft Green Gas are available in various different varieties they are essentially just Propane with varying amounts of Silicon Lube or other Additives contained in the mixture to vary the potential power output provided. The additives are used to stabilize the gas, to inhibit it from rapid or increased expansion from temperature. Generally the more additives the less powerful the gas is due to the decreased volume of propane, and the less additives the more powerful it becomes.
Green Gas guns typically store the gas in the magazines, and can be easily filled simply by depressing the cans nozzle into the fill valve on the base of the magazine. It's very easy to do and the gas itself is very easy to store as its in a simple metal can with a push to release nozzle. An added bonus of Green Gas Magazines is that they can be topped up at any time, this makes them very easy to use, however, due to the limited gas storage space, and being surrounded by thick metal in the magazine, the gas is easily affected by temperature.
Weaker gas is more affected by lower temperature, with a common gotcha being trying to use weak gas in colder weather rendering them useless, with the inverse also being true, of using too powerful gas in high temperatures and making it too powerful for UK Sites.
As it can be quite confusing we've put together a couple of examples just to help guide you through it all. Spoiler alert: 99% of the time you're going to be using NUPROL 2.0 or ASG Ultrair.
In range of power we have the following.
The most powerful was always going to be pure propane. This is exactly the same stuff that you're using barbecues and portable cookers but with a special adapter to allow you to fill gas magazines via the valve. It's the base of what makes up your standard airsoft Green Gases except it doesn't have any lubricant in it so users need to add their own from the neck of the bottle.
If you are looking at using pure propane in your pistol or rifle then just bear in mind that you're gonna need to spend more time lubricating the internals just pay a bit more attention to that as it does run very dry but that's your trade off for more power and consistency
So there you have it guys that's our beginner's guide to the various gases available for airsoft replicas, remember 99% of you are going to be using standard green gas anyway, but hopefully it's provided you a bit more information and busted some of those myths that may surround the genre.
The video features Patrol Base Pete, and Patrol Base Mike, and this is the first video in a long series of episodes which are targeted at dealing with issues that pertain to beginners in Airsoft. Hopefully this is the information you don't really hear a lot about through regular social media channels like YouTube or Facebook. We're going to be trying to hit the questions which people feel too stupid to ask, but don't worry, there is no such thing as a stupid question in Airsoft: we were all new players once!
For this episode Pete and Mike will be looking at battery connecters. They'll be covering the four main types of battery connectors that you'll likely come into contact with when using Airsoft electric guns. Some are common, and some are not, but it's good to get a good overview of all types of connectors should you run into them into the field.
They'll be looking into the four main battery connector types used in Airsoft AEG:
Spoilers: 99% of the time if you're buying a new Airsoft gun then you'll be looking at small Tamiya connectors. For example, guns like the Edge Series from Specna Arms come with small Tamiya Connectors. If you've picked something up 2nd hand then the chances are it'll have been upgraded to deans for a lower resistance connection, or if you have a super fancy high speed and over the top custom job you might find yourself with some XT60 connectors. XT60 is the least common connector, but it's good to be made aware of should you have to deal with it in the field.
It's good to know that almost all AEG connectors are plug and play: you simply push them together and as long as your battery is charged you're pretty much good to go. If you're worried then there is no need tobe. This is because all the most common Airsoft connectors are designed to only plug in one particular way so that you can't accidentally plug positive to positive or negative to negative and cause a short. This way there's a lot less worry, and less issues with getting it wrong and damaging your connectors.
Tamiya Connectors have one round pin, and one square pin, Deans connectors have a vertical and horizontal pin, and the XT60 has a not and a chamfered edge so you can't plug them in the wrong way around unless you really force them!
You may have noticed, either in real life or in this video, that some batteries (specifically Lithium Polymer, aka LiPo batteries) have an extra little white connector attached in addition to the normal battery connector. This is called the balance lead, or sometimes called a balance cable, and that's responsible for making sure that the individual cells charge as they should. This cable gives the charger access to each of the individual cells so they can each be charged to the correct level.
If any of you avid Airsoft DIY enthusiasts, or starter Airsoft Techs, out there are considering swapping over the connectors on your gun from Tamiya to Deans then don't forget to remember that it's the male connector that goes on the gun end and the female connector that goes on the battery end.
For those of you who still need the birds and the bees talk: the male pins are the extruding ones which go into the other female connectors.
This is to prevent short circuiting when the batteries in your guns, or when equipment is in storage or in a kit bag. The idea is that the pins can't be bridged to cause a short due to exposed pins. This is particularly important when you're talking about Deans connectors, as the male pins are fully exposed.
When it comes to choosing a battery to go in your rifle that's a whole new video itself. Suffice to say that manufacturers have tried their hardest of crammed batteries into every possible space available on a gun.
For example in an m4 generally speaking the battery would go in the buffer tube in an AEK underneath the top dust cover.
If you're worried about buying the right battery for your airsoft gun check out the Specifications Tab on each of the product listings to see what we recommend if you're in any doubt still please get in touch, or give us a call.
So there you go guys hopefully this video has been of some help to you the new players out there. Featured in the video was Patrol Base Mike, and Patrol Base Pete. If you found this interesting then keep an eye out for more, we'll be releasing new content soon all targeted at new players!
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