Airsoft pistols offer great versatility when playing. They can easily function as primaries while playing indoors or sidearms in outdoor games. These weapons are incredibly diverse, allowing players to choose from historical timelines to sci-fi replicas.
Airsoft pistols can be powered by electricity, gas, or HPA. For gas, guns can run off CO2 or green gas/propane. If you choose to buy a gas pistol, you may wonder how to load one.
For green gas pistols, it is vital to get the angle correct. The stem on the green gas can (or propane adapter) should be completely in line with the fill valve when you press down. Pistols powered by CO2 typically use small metal canisters, which are held in the mag. To fill these, simply screw in a new cartridge.
After filling your magazine with gas, load the mag, and you are ready for the field! The amount of gas the magazine can hold will vary on size. Still, it is recommended to top off your gas when reloading your magazine. The last thing you want is to run out of gas when you go to pull the trigger.
While discussing how to fill gas pistols, it will be essential to know a bit about the pieces at play. Knowing their names and their design will help fill correctly and aid in any repairs or maintenance if needed.
Fill valves are the part of the airsoft gun or magazine that the stem is inserted into. This small part is threaded and, if broken, can be easily replaced. This piece also uses an o-ring that rests between the weapon's surface and the valve's face.
This placement helps prevent any gas from escaping. If you develop a leak around this part, it may just be the o-ring that needs to be replaced.
The gas stem, or nozzle, is the male piece attached to the green gas can or the propane adapter. These nozzles are inserted into the valves, which allow the liquid gas to flow into the mag.
When pressed, the nozzle retracts into the can or adapter, opening the valve. If the stem breaks on a green gas can, or the propane adapter, then there isn't any way to replace it.
Although there are multiple options for propane adapters, the small stems for gas cans are not easily found for purchase. Installing one would be even harder. If you break the stem, it is best to find out what happened to avoid doing it in the future!
Most gas pistol magazines will have a fill valve on the bottom. Depending on the mag, there may be a base plate that has a hole for the valve.
In some cases, the base plate may cover the valve and needs to be taken off to access it. Regardless, if you are using standard green gas cans or a propane tank with an adapter, you will have a stem that is used to insert into the fill valve.
To fill, you must insert the stem into the valve at a straight angle (see image above). Doing so allows all the fluid to transfer without leaking and avoids damage.
When you press down, be sure not to press too hard, or else you can damage the stem. If the nozzle is damaged, you will leak gas whenever you fill your magazine. In some cases, damage to the stem or valve will cause a leak, which wastes all your gas.
CO2 pistols operate the same, but due to the increased pressure, shoot with higher velocities. While green gas pistols have fill valves, CO2's canisters mean that it is no longer an option.
Pistols using CO2 almost always keep the cartridge in the magazine. To fill these pistols, you must unscrew the old canister, if there is one, and then insert the new one.
Once inserted, screw the base down. Screwing this into place will push the head of the canister into the gun, piercing the top. Piercing the top will then allow the CO2 to flow.
Because this pierces the top, you must keep the canister inserted in the magazine. Unscrewing it while there is gas still present will suddenly expel whatever is left.
With some guns, such as revolvers, the CO2 is stored in the grip.
Now that you know how to load gas into your airsoft pistol, you’re ready to play!
Keeping these guidelines in mind, you should not have to worry about breaking any stems or valves. In the event that a fill valve does break, do know that it is possible to replace it.
However, take great caution not to break the nozzle! If you are curious to learn more about different types of gas, how it works, and maintenance, you can read more about it here.
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