What is a GAS RAM in an Air Rifle?

[brihacharan]

Hi Guys,
> To those of you who wonder what a Gas Ram in air-guns is all about - here's some gyan I wish to share...

What is a GAS RAM in Air Rifles?

A gas ram air-gun is a spring gun...without a spring!

A gas ram air-gun is a spring-piston gun in which the coiled steel mainspring is replaced with a sealed "gas spring" unit. Instead of the coiled spring pushing the piston, compressed gas does the job. "Gas ram" is just one name for this power plant. It's also called a gas strut and a gas spring, which I prefer because it is more descriptive of the unit.

You find gas springs in many mechanical things these days. Cars are probably the most familiar. Anyone who owns a minivan has seen a gas spring unit push the deck up when it's opened. Gas spring units have all but replaced coiled steel springs.

Gas spring advantages

There are several advantages to gas springs over steel such as:

1. They last longer. Gas springs last for decades, while steel springs wear out in the same timeframe. Gas springs seldom leak, so it doesn't matter whether they are under tension or not - they still retain all their power. Steel springs fatigue over time if they're under tension. You can leave a gas spring gun cocked for weeks, and it will not lose any power.

2. They are lighter. A gas spring unit, which includes the piston, will shave off close to a pound of the rifle's weight.

3. They are faster. Gas springs react faster than coiled steel, so they get the pellet out the muzzle quicker. They tend to be more powerful than equivalent guns with steel springs, but that can easily be adjusted with piston diameter and stroke length.

Gas spring disadvantages

Very few disadvantages, but you should know what they are before you buy a gas spring air-gun:

1. They are harder to cock. For muzzle energy equal to a conventional coiled steel spring, a gas spring can tack on another 50 percent to the cocking effort.

2. They have a harsher firing behavior. They don't vibrate like steel springs, but the jolt when they fire is quick & sharp.

In the final analysis – the choice to go in for a Gas Rammed Air Rifle is a matter of Personal Choice! It’s a novelty – if you already possess a good SPRINGER, a gas ram could be an addition to one’s armoury!

Brihacharan

[ckkalyan]

Informative piece brihacharan - thanks for sharing!

[tiwariarrun]

You mean, Nitro-piston's the same thing?

[PRITAM PATEL]

Very informative...artical

Hi Guys,
2. They have a harsher firing behavior. They don't vibrate like steel springs, but the jolt when they fire is quick & sharp.
Brihacharan

Just don't agree with above, Gas ram has much more smooth firing behavior over conventional spring, defiantly jolt is more but over all firing behavior is batter than spring plant
plz correct me if I m wrong with above.....

regards

pritam

@Tiwari.....Gas Ram, Gas spring, Nitro piston all are same thing.....

[brihacharan]

[quote="PRITAM PATEL"]Very informative...article

Just don't agree with above, Gas ram has much more smoot firing behavior over conventional spring, defiantly jolt is more but over all firing behavior is batter than spring plant - plz correct me if I m wrong with above.....

regards
pritam

Hi Pritam Patel,
> Gas Ram, Gas Strut, Gas spring & Nitro piston all are the same thing.
> The original invention was done by 2 Brits, Dave Theobalt & Ben ......... Hence the Brand "THEOBEN"
> No, you are not wrong - A well tuned springer could be as smooth as a Nitro-Piston.
> I can vouch for it because My Samurai 3G is as smooth as my friends Nitro Piston 0.22cal which I have fired.
> Nitro Pistons can deliver higher velocities as compared to sprigers - besides by regulating the gas pressure in the Nitro Piston you can vary the fps.
> As a common practice Nitrogen is the gas used - but some people also use air instead of Nitrogen.
> Nitrogen is an inert gas and behaves better than air which contains oxygen.
> Also Nitro Piston air-guns can accomodate heavier pellet weights such as 16gr Dynashot & 18gr GSmith, thus giving more fpe.
Cheers
Briha

[hellfire_m16]

Briha...nice read...simple and crisp...

[snIPer]

Here are the older threads on the same lines.

http://www.indiansforguns.com/viewtopic ... am#p102704

http://www.indiansforguns.com/viewtopic ... ram#p91887

[FPSRussia]

Gas pistons are the future of spring piston airguns(even most of the existing spring powered airguns can accomodate a gas ram without much difficulties)....Indian manufacturers should seriously think about it and also about two stage triggers....After all, these items can easily be produced in India....

Regards

[ckkalyan]

There have been several manufacturers of quality gas springs for sometime in India...the country is quite developed in that area e.g.

http://www.gasspringindia.com/index.html