CO2 Quality is Critically Important for Your Airgun

The performance life of your air gun’s valve and seals depends heavily on the cleanliness of the CO2 you’re using as well as the type of seal the cylinder creates against your airgun’s o-ring. Dirty CO2 can cause diminished velocities and equate to fewer shots per cylinder.Umarex and walther braded co2 capsules are high-grade specifically for air guns.There are several brands of cartridges (or capsules) to choose from and without being able to see inside of each capsule, it is impossible to know which brand or brands offer the cleanest CO2 and are of the best quality. Cartridges also come from various manufacturers and countries, all of which have differing standards of quality control. Each capsule has to conform to size, weight and temperature threshold specifications, but there are no regulations governing the cleanliness of the CO2 or the cartridge, so it is hard to know which is the best without testing each and every one – you could go through several o-rings and destroy a valve or two before figuring out which is best.

It's What's Inside that Matters

We see many air pistols and paintball markers in for service that have inoperable / clogged valves or deteriorated o-rings and seals. More times than not, it’s evident that a lesser quality CO2 capsule was regularly used in these airguns and markers.

What Goes In Comes Out

Low quality CO2 capsules can have extraordinary amounts of oil and grit lining the walls of the capsule.

'After cutting some capsules open, the color, texture, and smell of the grime in the dirty capsule was consistent with what we were seeing on our gunsmith bench and is what we determined to be the main cause of most of the 'bad' o-rings and valves we were seeing in the airguns coming in for service.'

Dirty CO2 Gunks Up Your Valves

Above is a dirty valve caused by dirty/bad CO2. This is often the cause of leaks in CO2 guns.

The most common leak is caused by a cartridge’s tip making a bad seal against an o-ring. Cartridges are filled with liquid CO2 and then capped. There are at least three different styles of caps (see picture at right) and one may work better than another in your airgun. Take a close look at the valve where your cartridge fits into the airgun. If the cartridge simply presses against a seal, most of the time any of the three will work. If your cartridge slides through an O-ring, you could experience leaks if you use the wrong shape capsule.

Different CO2 Neck Types

Umarex and Walther CO2 capsules look like the one on the right. Do not apply excessive force or use pliers to get the other-shaped capsules in your airgun. Doing so could damage the gun’s frame and/or puncture assembly.