Green gas vs CO2 sidearm.

[Frag3k]

So as I'm getting into airsoft and building my experience and gear collection I've been looking at getting a sidearm in the future, my personal preference is a Five-Seven platform.

At the few rec games I've been to guys have had GG and CO2. When I asked about the preference someone had for their GG they said that it had a lower FPS making it more suitable for close engagements.

So getting down to it there's a couple different options available to me as far as Five-Seven. My question is, what are the differences and or advantages to either? Is there any consideration for our fine weather?

Sent from my SGH-T999 using proboards

[Snarf]

Go with green gas.

1. CO2 pistols are normally too hot for a reasonable pistol minimum engagement distance. Green gas gives you a nice 280-340 FPS depending on the model and brand.

2. Green gas will be cheaper in the long run if you get a propane adapter. Propane is extremely cheap and easy to find.

3. Generally green gas pistols are more reliable than co2 because co2 pistols operate at higher pressures which stress the internal parts of the gun.

4. Theoretically co2 pistols will work better in the winter, but I'd avoid using any gas guns in cold weather anyways.

I think TM and KWA have nice 5-7s but I'm not sure.

[Stinger]

Oct 2, 2014 17:37:45 GMT -5 Snarf said:

3. Generally green gas pistols are more reliable than co2 because co2 pistols operate at higher pressures which stress the internal parts of the gun.

CO2 also has a tendency to eat away at rubber O-rings, causing leaks to be prolific in CO2 guns.

[Breathe]

What CStinger said; Co2 is slightly acidic and will wear down O-rings quicker

However little is being said about the advantages of Co2.

Co2 works better in cooler temperatures (below 40f your screwed past 7-8 shots)

Co2 GBB's (in my experience) jam less from dust and dirt in the slide.

Louder Report!

FPS isnt an issue if you buy a proper model, Stay away from those WG pistols with the Co2 in the grip and not the magazine (any gun like that is generally crap)

Co2 is very dense with energy, you'll get loads of shots off of a single 12g canister.

Because of Co2's energy density is so much higher than HFC or green gas you won't usually suffer from cooldown.

Co2 is awesome!

If you intend on the pistol as being a sidearm you won't need to worry so much about the cost of Co2 capsules (since you shouldn't be needing your sidearm that much anyway) and if its for a minimum engagement rule than having a more reliable sidearm would be well worth the cost of gas. 

[Elvis]

I think this is based more on preference but I find green gas/propane to be better for a number of reasons. Green gas is kinda expensive but if you have a propane adapter on average one big can of propane will be around $2 and last you for many months depending on your use. Co2 will be about .50-.75 cents a cartridge and on average will only last about 80-140 shots from my experience, depending on the temperature. Also the co2 seems to leak much more frequently than propane. It is kind of annoying because say you want to go and shoot 1 or 2 shots for whatever reason then you just spent .50 cents on a co2 just to have it leak out overnight. So propane is the way to go in my book. Also I like the propane mags a lot more, some co2 mags are about the size of a pencil while others have a cartridge sticking out. Co2 tends to run too hot for a side arm a lot of times also. All and all I would recommend a green gas/propane pistol

[Frag3k]

That's what I'm leaving towards, the only GG 5-7 I can find is a TM though, no trademarks, and it looks like I'd have to import it. Versus a Marushin 5-7 CO2 that's trademarked and its available pretty easily. Ah the dilemma.

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[Elvis]

Oct 3, 2014 11:12:50 GMT -5 Frag3k said:

That's what I'm leaving towards, the only GG 5-7 I can find is a TM though, no trademarks, and it looks like I'd have to import it. Versus a Marushin 5-7 CO2 that's trademarked and its available pretty easily. Ah the dilemma.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using proboards

Is your heart set on a 5-7? There are many other goos side arms out there, my advice is to expand your search preferences

[Phantom Reaper]

Oct 3, 2014 12:18:22 GMT -5 Elvis said:

Oct 3, 2014 11:12:50 GMT -5 Frag3k said:

That's what I'm leaving towards, the only GG 5-7 I can find is a TM though, no trademarks, and it looks like I'd have to import it. Versus a Marushin 5-7 CO2 that's trademarked and its available pretty easily. Ah the dilemma.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using proboards

Is your heart set on a 5-7? There are many other goos side arms out there, my advice is to expand your search preferences

Agreed, for example KWA's line of H&k handguns perform well and are comfortable.

[Zorak]

It's been years and it may no longer be a concern but back in '04, I was reffing for some winter CQB games at the (unheated) ACO facility in Lyons-Muir. Some younger players came in with CO2 pistols and we had to turn them away because the pistols were shooting over 400fps. It was insane. We suspected it was so cold that when the CO2 containers were full, the pistols were picking up a little liquid CO2.

[stealthyrt]

I agree with Green Gas! But... Propane stinks... Your gun will smell even days after shooting it.

[Breathe]

I know this might sound crazy but If your set on using a Five-Seven as a sidearm and your shying away from Co2 due to potential velocity issues, How about you try running Propane or green gas using booster packs?

OR if you would prefer a Co2 powered gun, playing with the spring tension might help with the velocity.

If you were to INCREASE spring tension from the magazine valve it would allow less gas to enter your gun.

[Elvis]

Also I forgot to mention, but I would highly recommend you build up your main load out before purchasing a side arm. So get your bdu, tact vest, internal upgraded etc first. Secondary's are nice and all but they just are not nessary, unless you plan on using it for a main cqb weapon of course. Just my two cents

[Red (Eazy-E)]

To sum this as easily as I can, I dont want my pistol to have a farther engagement distance than my rifle. I owned a GG Xtreme 45 for a while, great gun, and a blast to shoot, but when your pistol is shooting 410FPS when your primary is shooting 355FPS, what is even the point of carrying the pistol in my opinion. The only thing CO2 has going for it in my opinion, is its reliability in colder weathers, but with better and better technology coming out for green gas pistols, Most mags now can get through 2-3 mags worth of rounds on one charge of green gas(or propane) in NORMAL weather (about 70-80 degrees) so I dont see why they would have a problem being able to get through 1 mag worth or rounds in a colder environment (30-40 degrees).

[Frag3k]

As far as my heart set on a 5-7, absolutely. Ever since Counter-strike 1.4. Doesn't mean there won't be a couple of other pistols in my future though. I'm only getting started.

My load-out is coming along, I actually have a couple set's of BDU's, and a few other pieces of gear, the only things I'd say I'm really missing are some mid-caps and a chest-rig/plate carrier. But I like to research everything before I spend my money, so my 5-7 is a couple months in the future.

Looking at several Marushin 5-7 reviews it seems to shoot in the 240-280 range with .20s, depending on tempeture. It still has a Japanese regulator built in to keep in spec with their laws. One reviewer getting 5 complete clips through the replica before having to change the cartridge. The TM version is really recommended to use duster gas, with starting velocity about the same as the Marushin, but the duster quickly tailed off as far as velocity. Not recommended to use GG. The Marushin is really the lead horse at this point, these seem to be the only 2 options as far as 5-7's go. I'm thinking I'll be picking up a sidearm sometime around the Christmas season, so I have a while to do my due diligence.

Everyone's comments and advice are very much appreciated though, if anyone happens to think of anything else please let me know.