Green Gas & CO2

Green gas, red gas and winter gas

Green gas is propane with a little silicone oil, sold in cans with a nozzle that fits the valve of a gas magazine. It powers most gas blowback pistols, gas rifles and gas grenades. Red gas and black gas have a higher pressure for cold weather and heavy slides, but they stress plastic slides and seals in guns not designed for them. Winter gas sits in between and keeps a standard pistol cycling on a cool morning. Check the manufacturer's recommendation before you step up in pressure.

CO2 capsules

CO2 comes in 12 g capsules that drop into a CO2 magazine or revolver grip and are pierced on loading; an 88 g capsule feeds some rifles and support guns. CO2 holds its pressure in the cold and gives a hard, loud recoil, which is why it is popular for revolvers and for winter play. Only use it in guns and magazines built for CO2: it will damage a green gas magazine. One capsule lasts two to four magazines depending on temperature.

Care for gas guns

Gas carries oil into the gun, but seals still dry out: a drop of silicone oil in the fill valve every few cans, from maintenance, keeps magazines from leaking. Store gas cans and capsules below 50 °C and out of the sun. Gas and CO2 are unrestricted; cans ship as limited-quantity goods by ground, which is why they travel with a courier rather than by post.