Basic Controls of a Gas Blowback Pistol

Today, we will talk about the essential operation of a gas blowback pistol. This will not apply to non-blowback or partial blowback pistols. 

Pistol starter kits

As with any firearm or projectile shooting device like an airsoft gun, the following rules MUST be observed:

1. Treat all firearms as if they were loaded - TREAT THE GUN WITH RESPECT.
2. Finger off the trigger unless you are intending to fire.
3. Do not point the muzzle at anything you don’t intend to shoot at.
4. Be aware of your target’s foreground and background. In this context, it means using an airsoft gun where appropriate.

Most of the controls should be the same across the board because of how accurate semi-automatic pistols work, with the exception of a few minor details.

ASG CZ-P09

ASG CZ-P09

I’m going to go over the basic terminology for a pistol.

1. The muzzle is the end of the pistol and is where the BB will come out when fired. If I talk about the front of the gun, it will refer to the muzzle end.
2. The top portion of the pistol is called the slide. It slides back and forth.
3. The grip is the portion of the handgun that you hold onto.
4. This is the trigger.
5. This is the slide lock or slide release. The term can be used interchangeably.
6. On top of the slide are sights.
7. This is the magazine release, also referred to as the magazine catch.
8. This is the outer barrel. Inside is the inner barrel.
9. This is the hopup chamber. This is where the next BB is loaded into and is going to stay until you fire it. Most, if not all, of the full blowback model pistols will come with an adjustable hopup system. How it is adjusted will vary from pistol to pistol, so refer to your manual to learn how to change it.
10. In addition to these essential items, your pistol may have additional things, such as a takedown lever to break down the gun for cleaning. You may also have an external or manual safety or a decocker. Some models may even offer full-auto.

ASG CZ-P09 Urban Gray

The magazine has some terms to remember to:

1. This is the magazine. This is NOT called a clip. The magazine will look different depending on if you have a green gas or CO2 pistol. A green gas magazine acts like a reservoir or gas tank, and you transfer gas from the canister into the magazine by depressing this nozzle onto the fill valve. If you have a CO2 magazine, you will load a CO2 cartridge into the magazine and turn the key until the CO2 is punctured. Each system has pros and cons that you can learn about in our pistol guide video.
2. This is the feed lip. This is what holds the top BB in place when the gun is cycling. It is almost always made of plastic, so do take care not to break it. Load the magazine carefully to avoid breaking this part.
3. This is the follower. It pushes the BBs up while the pistol is in operation.
4. This is the magazine spring.
5. This is the release valve. When you fire the gun, the internal striker will press this valve for a split second and release the gas into the pistol to make it cycle.
6. This is the magazine gasket. This is where the gas flows through into the pistol.
7. For a CO2 pistol, this puncture valve will be present. This is where the CO2 canister gets poked. The CO2 is directly pressurized against the release valve and straight into the gun.
8. Some magazines, be it green gas or CO2, will require you to slide this forward to access the bottom of the magazine. This piece is called the base plate. Do not drop airsoft magazine onto the floor.

A semi-automatic-style pistol is excellent because of the realism it brings and how fun they are. They are less suitable for long-range use but are best suited as a sidearm or backup. These also make great training tools for real firearm enthusiasts as well.

ASG CZ Shadow 2

A loaded semi-auto gas pistol will fire once per trigger pull and lock the slide back upon empty. To operate your gas pistol, load your magazine up with BBs. Then add the fuel to the magazine. Your magazine is now ready. Insert the magazine into the gun. At this point, you must pull the slide back the first time to chamber a BB. The handgun is now ready to fire.

You may continue to fire until the gun is empty. Each shot will recoil and cause the slide to move back. Upon moving forward, it will pick up the next round. Once the gun is empty, the slide will lock back. When it is locked back, you can do one of two things: Reload it and drop the slide and continue firing, or drop it forward. Any time an empty magazine is in the handgun, the slide will lock back.

The gun can function without BBs loaded in the magazine, so be careful when you have gas in the pistol.

Activate the magazine release to change magazines or remove the current magazine in your gun. The magazine should come out freely, so be sure you have your hand there to catch it. Dropping the magazine on the floor will result in breaking the magazine.

Taking apart the pistol is going to be different for every model. Consult your manual or official resources to learn how to do this. From here, you can lubricate and clean your pistol regularly. Use only 100% pure silicone oil or similar to clean the gun and treat the rubber o-rings inside the magazine.

If you have a problem with the airsoft gun you buy from us, contact us immediately so we may help and troubleshoot for you. Only attempt to disassemble something, as it will void your warranty unless we instruct you. An airsoft gun is NOT like a real gun, so do not accept help from a buddy inclined to take it apart to help figure things out. This tends to cause more harm than good. The consequences would be a denial of warranty claims, making it more difficult to be returned or repaired. If you bought a new gun from somewhere else, take advantage of their service and warranty when you have problems.

I want to note another thing we encountered on the customer service side. If you have a problem or did something wrong, please be honest and upfront about it. When you do things you are not advised to do and give us incorrect information to act on, it makes helping you more complex and potentially more expensive. This is life advice, too, as you are more likely to get help even if you screwed up if you own up to it, than to be misleading from the get-go. The sport of airsoft runs on the honor system, and we hope that resonates with people asking us for help. If that help or warranty is abused, the bottom line is that the services an airsoft shop offers will increase in price.

This covers the basics of pistol ownership. Please check our video library on YouTube for specifics about the many essential aspects of the sport and the equipment for more details. We have a video on cleaning pistols as well. We will continually refine and update our content to serve our customers better!

Understanding the basic controls of a gas blowback pistol is crucial for airsoft enthusiasts seeking the most realistic and engaging experience. This foundational knowledge not only enhances safety but also ensures optimal performance of your airsoft pistol; for those committed to excellence in their airsoft endeavors, choosing from premium airsoft pistol brands becomes essential. These brands consistently deliver on both quality and reliability, offering pistols that embody the pinnacle of airsoft technology and design.