Gas Blowback (GBB) Airsoft Pistols: A Buyer’s Guide

A gas blowback (GBB) pistol is the most realistic way into airsoft sidearms: the slide cycles back with every shot, just like the real thing. This guide covers how they work, which gas to use, how to look after them and which pistols we’d recommend.

Try one first: you can shoot gas pistols on the indoor range at our Thetford shop. Call 01842 683567.

How a GBB pistol works

Gas is stored in the magazine. When you pull the trigger, a valve releases a burst of gas that fires the BB and pushes the slide back, which cocks the hammer and loads the next BB. Most GBB pistols are semi-auto; a few can fire full-auto.

Which gas?

• Green gas: the standard choice for most pistols, usually with added silicone to keep the seals healthy. Try WE 2.0 green gas (800ml): £8.95 or Duel Code green gas (150ml): £3.95.
• Red gas and other high-pressure gases: more power and a snappier kick, especially in cold weather, but they put more stress on the pistol. Only use them if your pistol’s maker says it’s suitable. For example, Nimrod red gas (500ml): £12.95.
• CO2: some pistols use 12g CO2 capsules in the magazine. CO2 is powerful and less affected by the cold, but you can’t swap gas types in the same magazine.

Cold weather

All gas pistols lose power as the gas cools, and UK winters make that worse. Keep spare magazines in an inside pocket, warm them in your hands between shots, and don’t empty a whole magazine quickly. For winter games, CO2 or an HPA adapter can help.

Our picks

Under £120

• Snow Wolf M9: £72.95. A budget-friendly M9-style blowback pistol.
• WE Galaxy G Series: £100.95. WE’s take on the G-series pistol: simple, tough and great value.
• E&C EC17 SAI: £104.95. A G-series style pistol with SAI-inspired styling.
• WE 17 Series Gen 5: £114.95. A popular, reliable first gas pistol with plenty of spare parts and magazines available.

£120 to £170

• Staccato C2 COMP SOC 2011 (licensed, by Army): £124.95. A licensed competition-style 2011.
• Vorsk VP26X (black): £139.99. A P226-style pistol from Vorsk.
• Vorsk Hi-Capa Titan 7 (chrome match): £149.99. A Hi-Capa built for speed shooting.
• Umarex Glock G45 Gen5 (by VFC): £155.95. Officially licensed with genuine Glock markings.

Prices and stock change regularly, so check each product page. Many of these pistols are usually on the shelf in our Thetford shop.

Looking after a gas pistol

• Use gas with silicone, or add a drop of silicone oil to the magazine’s fill valve now and then.
• Store magazines with a little gas in them to keep the seals swollen and sealing.
• Don’t dry-fire a lot without gas, and keep the pistol clean and lightly lubricated.
• Buy at least one spare magazine. It’s the best upgrade for any gas pistol.

Which pistol platform should you choose?

Picking a popular platform makes life much easier, because spare magazines, holsters and upgrade parts are easy to find.

• 17 series (G-series): simple, tough and the most common sidearm on UK sites. Great for beginners. Examples above: WE Galaxy, WE 17 Gen 5, E&C EC17 and the Umarex G45.
• Hi-Capa and 2011: the go-to for accuracy and speed shooting, with the biggest range of upgrade parts. Examples above: Vorsk Titan 7 and the Staccato C2.
• M9 and P226 styles: classic military looks with a solid feel. Examples above: Snow Wolf M9 and Vorsk VP26X.

Not sure which suits you? Pick each one up in our Thetford shop and see which feels right in your hand.

What else you’ll need

• Spare magazines: Browse pistol magazines
• Gas: Browse gas
• A holster: Browse holsters
• BBs: 0.20g or 0.25g bio BBs. Browse BBs

Questions we get asked

What’s the best gas blowback pistol for a beginner? A 17-series pistol like the WE 17 Gen 5 or WE Galaxy. They’re reliable, easy to maintain and spare magazines are everywhere.

Why does my GBB pistol shoot weaker in winter? Gas pressure drops as it gets colder. Keep magazines warm in an inside pocket, or consider CO2 or HPA for winter games.

Can I use red gas in my pistol? Only if the manufacturer says it’s suitable. Red and other high-pressure gases put more stress on the slide and internals.

How many magazines should I buy? At least one spare, ideally two. Gas pistol magazines don’t hold many BBs and they cool down as you shoot.

Is GBB or CO2 better? GBB with green gas for most players: it’s smoother and kinder to the pistol. CO2 if you play a lot in the cold.

See all our recommendations in our best airsoft pistols guide.

Buying a gas pistol from us

You must be 18 or over to buy an airsoft replica. You don’t need a UKARA number to buy from us: just confirm at checkout that you’re buying it to play airsoft, and we may give you a quick call. Not playing yet? We can two-tone a pistol for free, which adds around 24 hours.

Questions? Call 01842 683567 or visit us at 20 Castle Street, Thetford, IP24 2DW.