CO2 Airguns How do CO2 airguns differ from the live original? The new CO2 airguns are constructed in a more complex way than the live original. Depending on the model a live weapon consists of approximately 40-50 single component parts, while the CO2 action airguns feature 80-90 components. How does a CO2 airgun work? The handling of the CO2 capsule system is simple. The capsule is inserted in the pistol and mechanically pierced by a bolt during closing. After operation of the trigger, the hammer hits the pestle and the valve is opened so that the gaseous CO2 escapes from the capsule. Can you tell me more about the CO2 capsules? For use in airguns, the CO2 is fitted in small capsules. At room temperature, and normal pressure the CO2 is gaseous. The pressure rises proportionally to the outdoor temperature. In the capsules there is always a thermal balance between liquid and gaseous CO2. This affect is being used in the best possible way. In the CO2 airguns made by Umarex, the CO2 gas is directly ‘drawn off' the capsule causing the pressure inside the capsule to decline. As a result a part of the liquid CO2 gas vaporizes restoring the balance of pressure at the same time. For this process warmth from the environment is needed, which can be seen from the noticeable cooling of the CO2 capsule. Due to the fact that the reaction of the propellant gas CO2 varies according to the outdoor temperature the shooting characteristics differ from shot to shot. As long as there is a remaining quantity of liquid CO2 in the capsule the pressure remains constant. However, if the temperature inside the capsule should decline due to rapid fire, the balance of the pressure will also decline and thus also the speed of the pellet. The coincidence of these factors can also be noticed from the pattern of scores. So the number of shots as well as the muzzle velocity and the pattern of scores achieved with one CO2 capsule depend on the laws of Physics. How many shots will I get out of a single CO2 capsule? At room temperature and with the corresponding break between the shots, 10 x 8 series of shots can be fired with one CO2 capsule. The number of shots from a CO2 capsule will change with the temperature.