How Airsoft Guns Work

Airsoft guns are mainly of three types, namely spring-powered guns, gas-powered guns and electric guns.

How spring-powered airsoft guns work

Spring-powered airsoft guns utilize the potential energy of the spring to propel an airsoft pellet or BB through the gun’s barrel. The player needs to set these spring-guns before each and every shot. Thus these weapons are not capable of semi-automatic or automatic functioning. These are also not as effective as the gas or electric airsoft weapons. But spring-powered guns can operate without the help of any external source of power, like batteries or gas. Thus they can be shot any time and under any circumstance.

How gas-powered airsoft guns work

Gas-powered airsoft guns utilize the force of compressed gas to launch pellets or airsoft BBs. The gases commonly used are HFC134a, and green gas, which is a mixture of polysiloxane lubricant and propane. Carbon-di-oxide, nitrogen, high-pressure air and red gas are also sometimes used. The latter has high critical pressure and hence can harm an airsoft weapon. That is why it is used only if the gun has been configured suitably. Gas-powered airsoft guns have both semi-automatic and automatic functioning. How electric airsoft guns work

Electric airsoft guns operate with the help of a rechargeable battery. The battery runs an electric motor, which rotates the inner assembly of spring or piston to propel the airsoft pellets or BBs. Electric-powered airsoft guns are capable of both semi-automatic and automatic functioning. The automatic electric guns are mainly driven by, Nickel Cadmium or Nickel metal hydride.