As mentioned, These gasses are different in many different ways. You have to know when and where to use them. Let’s talk about what makes these gasses unique from each other when using them on your airsoft pistol and when you can use them.
CO2 Gas Cartridge
The CO2 cartridge at 800psi will allow you to shoot at 400 FPS on a normal day. Of course, you can adjust that according to your need. On colder days, however, the cold affects your CO2 ever so slightly. It might shoot at a lower velocity when shot in wintertime due to the cooldown effect which lowers the temperature of your gasses that makes it harder for your gun to shoot with them.
Top Gas
The green gas can that is stored generally at 100psi allows you to shoot your pistols at around 300FPS. They are field ready and no need for adjustments to fit the requirements. One thing about green gas is that you can’t shoot them in cold weather because the gas is not hot or warm enough to generate the power to shoot your BBs. This is also another effect of the cooldown effect that as you shoot rapidly, your gas inside the chamber drops in temperature.
Red and Black Gas
Red and black gas are just different variants of green gas that is stored at higher pressures. They say that these gasses are purposely made for airsoft guns to shoot at higher velocities. For this purpose, these gasses are highly recommended to shoot within colder temperatures. Red gas can increase your FPS by at least 40 percent. It is not recommended that this be used in the summer games or you’ll be hurting other players with your firepower.
Temperature and Gas Guns
Your green gas and CO2 cartridges will start to lose its power starting at 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). Together with the cooldown effect, the outside temperature is a big factor when playing airsoft with gas guns. It is not recommended, but sometimes, you have no choice. You have to be careful because it is not only the gasses that are affected but also your guns. Your guns are made of polymer and metal which some parts of it can turn brittle as the air gets colder. Using higher pressured gasses can also ruin the internal gears and workings of your airsoft pistol. You have to make sure that your pistol can handle the pressure and the firepower that the higher pressured gasses provide.