Collecting statistical data on GBB life
 

I regularly get questions on how long a particular GBB slide will last shooting propane. I also get a lot of requests to lifecycle test a GBB on the lifecycle tester I built to prove my flow restrictor:

http://www.airsoft-innovations.com/i...wrestrictorfaq

While this is probably the most sure way to monitor lifecycle related failures in a GBB, it's very expensive and the results are unfortunately only anecdotal. A lifecycle test means I have to pretty much sacrifice a GBB (not many ppl want to buy a GBB with 15k shots on it) and I have to maintain the test for 2-3 days (which actually costs more than the GBB itself).

Failing that, I would still like to give a useful answer to GBB lifecycle questions.

If you use a GBB that you know the history of (i.e. first owner) please respond in the following format:

GBB model: please be specific e.g. KSCG17 or KWAG17

Quantity and type of propellent used to date: 8x 465g cans propane, + 3 containers of HFC134a

Failures to date: broken slide @ apprx 3x cans of propane, replaced nozzle @ 5x cans

Interesting history: dropped down a concrete stairwell during indoor CQB game @ 2 cans. Pistolwhipped/mercydeathkilled someone wearing a helmet @ 2.5 cans


If you have used your GBB and still have experienced no failures for more than 3 cans of propellant, I'm still interested in your GBB history. Just post the GBB model, Qty and type of propellant used to date, and I'll assume no failures to date (if none are stated).


Thanks for your help in this matter. It would be nice to finally be able to say something more useful than: "I'm sorry, I have no non anecdotal usage data on your particular GBB. If your comfortable with green gas, than you've already accepted propane."

I suspect that nearly everyone uses propane/GG especially in the US anyways. It would still be good to categorize GBB failures with respect to shots (I can calculate with propellant usage) as it would indicate what GBBs are actually reliable.

KJW M9 (Metal):
One bottle of propane:
Slide cracked at the back:
Unknown Damage during shipping.

KJW M9
~1 465g's of propane
Outer barrel broke during firing
Damaged on arrival however
Dropped on its side from ~1 metre at least once

KSC M11 upgraded with metal upper reciever and bolt
~3 cans of propane
Thing loves the '22
No problems while it was in my posession

GBB model: Tm Desert Eagle Hardkick

Quantity and type of propellent used to date: 1x 465g can of Ozark Trail propane and 1x 1000ml can of Toy Jack, TOP green gas

Failures to date: Metal part inside the back of the slide cracked, lucky my dealer had an extra around.

Interesting history: While crawling down a metal tube felling out of my pants like 15 times (didn't have a holster), fell like 5 feet off a hill (might have hit some branches), slide out of my holster (wasn't buckled) and fell 1 foot onto the carpet.

GBB model: TM hicap about 1 year old now...
Propellent : about 6 bottle of coleman propane, 2 of AMO green gas and 2 of duster.. probably more
Damage: wear on the slide lock is starting to show but still does the job without any problem
Upgrades: Airsoft Innovation prototype piston cup... Works like a charm. The rest is bone stock.

KSC Glock 23f - Metal Slide + Inner barrel - Upgraded rod+spring.

2 full Coleman propane cylinders ~ 3,000 BBs total

No failures, no issues of any kind.

GBB model: TM desert eagle hardkick
quantity of propelent: at least 4 or 5 bottles of various brands of propane. (burnzomatic, siara trail, colman, and another)
failures to date: same thing as Egria experianced. a pice inside the slide broke, except mine broke right off and was floting around causing jams. took me a wile to figure it out, but i took it apart, removed the pice and it works again, except for the safty. (it might still be able to work, i have tried puting the pices back in) this was at a bottle of propane ago.
Note: this happend when i loaned the gun out a couple times, so i cant be sure that the cause was propane.

Ya same thing. I only found out when my gun started jaming up and the slide wouldn't slide all the way foward.

KSC G23F FMU
- upgraded recoil and hammer springs @ ZERO mags
- Firefly rocket valve @ 39 mags
- upgraded valve plug spring @ 39 mags

Propellant: approximately 45x mags-worth (mix of G19/G17) using only Coleman (blue bottle) and Taiwanese green gas. Mix of full auto and semi doubletaps.

Failures to date:
- stock floating valve combusted @37/39 mags using green gas on warm summer day.
- loading nozzle damaged due to gross negligence during floating valve installation (not gas related)
- no problems previous to floating valve failure.

New loading nozzle, firefly rocket valve, and upgraded plug spring @ 1.5 mags and going strong.



WA Beretta 92FS Centurion
- upgraded PGC loading nozzle @ 50 mags

Propellant: Upwards of 60 mags-worth using ONLY green gas. No duster, ever.

Failures:
- loading nozzle lip and BB-push nub thoroughly fuxxored @ 40 mags.

Loading nozzle damage caused extreme gas consumption. Replaced with PGC nozzle @50 mags.

Pistol subsequently sold. Slide was intact and going strong.

WA 1911 Wilson Combat CQB (1995 Model)
HFC134
No Issues... ever.

WA 1911 STI Limited Master (1997)
HFC134
No Issues... ever.

Tanaka Glock 17 Rail.
HFC134
Leaky Mag in a few days. Broken mag parts in a month.

WE HiCapa
Propane
No Issues.

GBB model: KJW M9

Propellent: 3x 465g cans propane (Coleman, green cans), 2x cans of green gas

Failures to date: None, expect for leaking mags once in a while.

GBB model: KSC G23F FMU

Propellent: 2x 465g cans propane (Coleman, green cans). Used extended 49rd mag and G19 mag, both have stock valves.

Failures to date: Broken loading ramp after around 30 mags. Hopup rubber slightly increased in size and eventually started to fall apart close to the end of second can, not sure about the cause, I suspect propaine or silicon oil.

KJ P14.45 (stock)
-Been through 2 cans of Coleman Propane, 2.5 cans of Ozark trail
Problems:
-Two mags have blown all seals. (at about 4.5 cans)
-Spring holding the blowback-valve back snapped (At about 2 cans)
-Hammer snapped in two (At 3 cans)
-WA Part 25's upper pin sheared off (at 3 cans)
-Numerous mag leaks (throughout)
-Mag valves opened up all the way when cold and fired.. (At 1 can)

WA Para HRT SCW (PGC metal slide, guarder recoil spring, hogue grips)
Been through 5 cans of Coleman propane, 1 Ozark
-Nozzle loading nozzle broken midway through 6th tank. (suspecting poor BB misfeed where a second bb came out and broke the nozzle when it came forward) replaced with shooters design part
-broke a bb follower due to negligence, replaced with OEM part
-mag rubbers changed recently because I felt like it
History: fell off my desk a couple times. still goin and kicking ass for over 1.5 years!

GBB model: KWA CZ 75

Quantity and type of propellent used: About one bottle of propane. Some HFC 134

Failures to date: none works like a charm, HFC 134 doesn't cycle the slide properly.

Interesting history: A small metal plate inside the magwell came loose and fell out (repaired). Other then that nothing.

GBB TM Glock 26 Advance
4 cans Coleman Propane
Failures to date: None, functions flawlessly

GBB KSC USP Compact
About 1 can Coleman Propane
Failures to date: Safety deactivates when trigger is pulled, but otherwise functions flawlessly