Concern about GBB rifle + Propane gas
 

My friend recently got a gas blowback rifle with realistic recoil action and a couple of propane gas tanks. I am kind of worry for him because if even some internal components are not perfectly aligned, they could cause a small spark during recoils in a propane filled environment. The problem could be relived somewhat if the rifle is well lubricated but this is a big IF.


I am very new to this airsoft arena and I would like to hear your opinions. Do you think my concern is justified?

This is a serious topic. I would be very appreciated if we could keep the discussion professional and serious. Thanks.

it's true that it's better to test your GBB/R in a well ventilated area if you don't want to fill a room with propane, which would be dangerous when you light up the next cigaretBOOM

other than that, I don't think GBB/R metal is even hard enough to produce a spark.
Anyway a GBB getting lit on fire because of a spark during fonctionnement is something unheard of yet.

It's not possible unless you're actually trying to light it on fire (ie. shooting your GBB in a small confined area and smoking at the same time). And even then it's probably going to be hard unless you're deliberately trying to do it. Only a small amount of propane is actually expelled, not really enough to catch fire and plus the valve that outputs propane is only depressed for a short period of time and when the slide goes back forward the knocker stops pressing on the valve.

So no the concerns aren't warranted.

PS: Green Gas = Propane so switching to green gas won't prevent the "off chance" of it blowing up in your face.

no

pretty stable gas.....don't worry about it.....like smoking next to the gas pumps.....

You go ahead then and smoke by gas pumps. I am aware that the spark is what instantly lights up gasoline vapor, and that open flame and embers are less likely but do you want every soccor mom freakin out on you?

Propane is generally considered incapable of ignition at concentrations less then 2%

Therefor I highly doubt that a GBB rifle's magazine contains sufficent gas to saturate an area to that extent.

Having said this, one could still ignite the propane at its source (ie during firing) however it is neigh impossible and even if it did com bust, the amount would be insignificant and its released energy would not be enough to cause serious harm to anyone.

Lipos explode ALOT more (ie, rarely) than GBB's detonate (ie, NEVER)

Umm.. its actually impossible for a GBB to detonate. Infact the temperature required to auto ignite propane is close to 1000 degrees. At that temperature the gun, mag, you, the trees, your house would have already caught fire or melted.


Lithium polymer batteries on the other hand have a maximum safe operating temperature of 160 degrees.

Its just the theory of mass misconception. for example MSG or monosodium glutamate, most people believe it is dangerous and bad for your health. However it is actually the most studied food additive in the last 20 years and has never shown to cause any kind of adverse side effect when consumed in normal amounts. BUT people still think its bad for you.

Same thing with LIPO batteries and Propane. People do not understand the chemistry or the physics of these things and thus fear them based off what they assume and what they can infer. its a natural human reaction.

They don't mean auto ignite though. They mean a spark catching from the parts hitting each other inside, and then igniting the propane. Which is way more possible than auto igniting, but still way way less possible than a Lipo overheating and exploding.

But yeah no worries there is no chance that this would happen ever.

I think you would be hard pressed to get any kind of spark from stainless steel (nozzle) on brass (cylinder).

The way that energetic gases pass their ignition makes this physically impossible. Only a catastrophic failure of containment could result in it exploding.


In any case, we are in agreement.


GBBR using propane will not explode.

It is unlikely that a GBB will spark, as (usually) they are made of magnesium in most cases. Which is funny because it is a HIGHLY FLAMMABLE ELEMENT, capable of burning in pure nitrogen, oxygen, carbondioxide and even water! thats right most aeg's are made from highly flammable material! OMG... I just realized this, everyone should send me their aeg's and gbbr and I will properly and safely dispose of them to prevent any harm.

[C3H8 + 5 O2 → 3 CO2 + 4 H2O + heat] This is the hydrocarbon combustion of propane, this illustration means for every molecule of propane there needs to be five molecules of oxygen to ignite, which means you can put a match in front of a GBB and it will put the match out (don't try this at home) because there is not enough oxygen to complete the reaction, that said, there is not enough oxygen inside a GBB to facilitate a reaction, even if there is a hot enough spark.

I am skeptical of your first statement though. It needs 5 mols of oxygen for every mol of propane for 100% complete combustion. Incomplete combustion exists, and there is air surrounding the front of the GBB. I would NOT RECOMMEND PUTTING A MATCH OR LIGHTER IN FRONT OF YOUR GBB. This may or may not be able to stay below the flammability limits. 2-10% is the range. It may momentarily stay in this range, which could cause a flare. Not worth trying what so ever.

When you run a stove off a propane tank, the tank is upright and your using the vapor. When you fill a GBB mag, you have the can upsidedown and your filling it with LIQUID propane.
It's significantly more difficult to ignite propane that's being fired from an airsoft gun. Infact you can shoot your pistol at a fire 3 feet away and nothing will happen, trust me, I've done it! With really dissapointing results, I was hoping for a fireball....

The fact is, if propane was that dangerous, it wouldn't be used in 90% of gas pistols.