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All About Airsoft Pistols

Tips & tricks Features for You First airsoft gun purchase?

Pistol is one of the basic equipment of every airsoft player. During the game, pistols serve mainly as backup weapons that can offer the user flexibility in various combat situations. In this article, we will look at the different types of airsoft pistols such as GBB, GBN AEP or manual pistols. We will write down their features, advantages and disadvantages and how to choose them according to your individual needs and preferences.

All About Airsoft Pistols

Obsah

1. Manual Pistols

2. Gas Powered Pistols

2.1 GNB Pistols

2.2 GBB Pistols

3. Maintenance of Gas Pistols

4. AEP Pistols

5. Recommended BBs and Gasses

6. Frequently asked questions

 

Pistols can be used for recreational shooting, weapons handling training, armed tactical simulations or competition shooting. Usually, airsoft pistols function as a close-range backup to a long gun.

Airsoft pistols are most commonly divided into manual, gas and electric. Each individual group stands out due to its specific characteristics in certain situations.


 

1. Manually Operated Pistols

The manual pistols are spring powered, which must be manually cocked before each individual shot, and are among the cheapest pistols on the market. These are the simplest airsoft replicas that are low maintenance and require no battery or gas to operate.  A large number of types can be found on the market made of high quality metal or plastic materials, and some models even have a hop up chamber to allow shooting at longer distances. With ranges ranging from 10 to 30 metres and with their lower price, they are suitable for the undemanding collectors or target shooting at close range. For airsoft games, gas or electric pistols are better suited, providing a greater shooting cadence.


 

2. Automatic Electric Pistols

AEP pistols are characterized by their convenient affordability, low maintenance, reliability, quiet operation and stable performance even at sub-zero temperatures. Another strength is the higher magazine capacity, which is most often around 30 pellets. The slide is in the vast majority of cases fully fixed and serves as a removable battery compartment cover. The battery is placed under the barrel, but there are also models in which the battery is integrated into the gun and only the power cable slides out for recharging. 

 Compared to gas pistols, AEPs have significantly lower power, accuracy and range. Generally their power output varies little outside the range of 0.3 - 0.4 J with a recommended bullet weight of 0.20 - 0.25 g. In practice, they are accurate enough to hit a smaller object at 10 meters or a figure at 20 meters.


 

3. Gas Powered Pistols

Gas pistols are ideal for players looking for realism and high performance. We divide them into GBB (Gas Blowback)that simulate realistic cycling of the slide, and gas guns without a moving slide GNB (Gas Non-Blowback).

 

3.1. Non Blowback pistols (GNB)

In this category, the pistols have either a fixed slide or allow only manual cocking without feeding the BB into the chamber. This system does not allow high rate of fire due to the double-action trigger. When the trigger is pulled, the hammer is cocked first, and only when the hammer is fully cocked is the shot fired. In terms of feel, the cocking mechanism can be compared to the firing of a revolver, in which the cylinder is first rotated when the trigger is pulled. Advantages are minimal moving parts, less wear and tear on the gun, lower cost, low noise, higher accuracy, and higher gas efficiency allowing sufficient lift to hop heavier pellets. These features make the GNB an ideal choice for playing in harsh outdoor conditions, especially since the sealed design prevents clogging with debris. They are preferred by players who deal with mud, water and dust during play.

Typical example can be the MK23 from ASG, which is the ultimate silent killer suitable for snipers, thanks to wide variety of upgrade options. 

3.2. Gas Blowback Pistols (GBB)

- GBB category are gas pistols that accurately simulate the functional elements of real firearms. The movement of the slide when the trigger is pulled mimics the recoil during firing, while at the same time the projectile is automatically fed from the magazine into the chamber. The weapon also indicates emptying of the magazine by locking the slide in the backwards position. Advantages are usually higher quality finish, easier disassembly, trigger response and, on some models, the ability to switch to automatic firing mode.

In general, this group is one of the most realistic, including realistic disassembly, and therefore very popular among airsoft players. Gas pistols can be further divided according to propulsion into gas (propane) and CO2.

Green Gas magazines function as a metal container for gas, which you fill inside using a valve similar to a lighter. Their advantage is the easy and quick filling with propane gas (Green Gas), which provides a strong and stable performance. Genuine airsoft replica gas also contains a small amount of silicone oil to help lubricate the internal parts of the gun.The disadvantage is the expansion of the gas, which depends on the ambient temperature.  For this reason, various concentrated gases have been developed: Green Gas, Red Gas and Black Gas 

CO2 guns use 12g capsules with compressed CO2 as propellant. These Co2 capsules are either inserted into the magazine compartment together with the BBs, or separately into the grip of the gun. In either case, after inserting the capsule, a clamping screw must be tightened to unseal the capsule. A significant advantage of CO2 is its higher temperature stability, which allows firing in the range of approximately 0 to 35 °C. The disadvantage is the greater fluctuation in performance, which is highest after refilling the cartridge and gradually decreases during shooting. The initial pressure is quite strong and wears the gun more. At the same time, it is good to keep in mind that CO2 does not contain a silicone component, unlike most airsoft gases. Another disadvantage is storage. Unlike GBB gas magazines, where storage with a small amount of gas is recommended for longer seal life, with CO2, the cartridge is taken out after the end of the game to prevent wear and tear on the gun.


 

4. Pistol Maintenance

Proper maintenance of gas guns is essential to ensure reliable operation and long service life. GBBs in particular experience intense wear and tear due to the many moving parts. In order for these weapons to maintain their performance, a few simple tasks are recommended.

A. Cleaning of the barrel

  • Barrel cleaning. is recommended to ensure the highest accuracy. Particularly in the case of gas guns, dirt build-up is more intense due to small oil droplets adhering to the inside of the barrel. The greasy surface can be easily cleaned either with a cleaning rod with cloth wipes lightly soaked in alcohol. Be sure to retract the hop-up rubber before cleaning to prevent damage. It is recommended to clean the barrel about once a month or once every three game days.

B. Lubrication

  • Lubrication is crucial for proper operation and longevity of all moving parts of the gun. In particular, light lubrication of the inside of the slide is recommended after each intensive use. Before applying silicone oil, it is advisable to clean the gun thoroughly of dust and dirt. The rails should show only a hint of grease, a thicker impregnation is rather undesirable. Some other mechanical parts of the gun, such as the trigger mechanism, do not need to be lubricated more often than once a year (depending on the type of gun and the intensity of shooting). The trigger mechanism does not need to be disassembled for lubrication, the oil is applied in minimal amounts to the top of the action.
  • A light coat of silicone oil is definitely recommended to apply to the plastic piston whenever it shows signs of drying out. When applying the oil, be especially careful not to let the oil come into contact with the hop-up rubber. After application, it is a good idea to manually move the breech several times to evenly distribute the oil on the nozzle and other moving parts.

How to maintain a GBB? 

C. Utahování spojů

  • Further wear occurs during firing due to large temperature changes during liquid gas expansion. All metallic joints are susceptible to cooling and loosen by gradual expansion and contraction of the materials. In addition to tightening the bolts, a small amount of thread adhesive is recommended to prevent failure.

D. Storing

  • We recommend storing airsoft guns out of the reach of children, ideally in a case or original packaging. Always make sure the gun is unloaded and the magazine is empty before storing the gun. 
  • For Green Gas guns, we always recommend leaving some gas in the tank. The gas contains silicone and this will ensure that the seals in the magazine do not dry out. CO2 guns, on the other hand, are always recommended to be stored without a cartridge. 

 

5. Recommended BBs and Gasses

The BB weight you use should be based on the strength of your weapon. As a rule of thumb, however, we can say that for all Green Gas guns we recommend 0.25g to 0.30g. For Co2 guns, 0.28g to 0.30g. Manually operated pistols and AEP pistols require significantly lighter pellets of 0.20g and 0.23g. Again, the rule here is that each BB can only be fired once! Repeated use of pellets can lead to damage to the gun. 

With gases, it's easier. Although there are several brands of Green Gas on the market, the content is the same in the end. So you can choose, for example, between Ultra air gas with a metal nozzle or Protech gas with a plastic nozzle.

WARNING: We strongly advise against the use of other industrial gases. They tend to be dirty and especially dry. They contain no silicone and your seals could soon crack. In the second place, these gases may operate at pressures other than the required Green Gas.  


 

6. Frequently asked question

I am a beginner, do I need a pistol? 

Generally, if the game itself or the field you are playing on requires it, for example because of the sniper rifle secondary weapon rule, you definitely don't need a pistol to start with. A pistol often serves more as an accessory that you will rarely use. That's why we recommend investing more money in your primary long gun. You can find your way to a pistol gradually, as you play and find out for yourself whether you really need it or not.   

Where do Airsoft pistols stand in the law? 

All airsoft replicas fall under category D according to the Law on Weapons and Ammunition No. 119/2002 Sb. Weapons classified in this way are not subject to registration but are subject to certain restrictions, such as the use of weapons in a restricted area or being carried and secured in a way that prevents their immediate use (carrying cases, gun cases or backpacks).

Jaký model pistole koupit? 

Simple advice. Choose a model you like and can find a holster for.  For smaller hands we can recommend Glocks, AAPs or 1911s. For larger hands, Hi-Capas or Glocks with an extended handle base are suitable, but in summary, it's really all about taste. Ideally, you should come to our shop and feel the models in person. 

Is is worth to have a red dot sight on a pistol? 

A red dot sight is always nice to have. It allows you to aim faster. But it's definitely not something you can't do without. It's just fine to shoot with the original sights. 

 

 

 

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