Blowback feature is among the coolest features you can find on airsoft guns and while some people do not like them the others cannot imagine operating an airsoft gun without it and for those interested, there are EBBs (electric blowbacks) and GBBs (gas blowbacks) to choose from.
Those who are against the blowback feature which mimics recoil and realism say that the functionality is more important and that having an additional part that can break is an unnecessary concern, in another hand majority of guns seem unrealistic and less cool without it.
Whatever the feature is, it is not useful if it breaks or does not work as intended, so in this article, I will discuss the difference between electric blowback vs gas blowback and I must tell you that there are plenty!
In short, which blowback system is better?
GBBs are considered better than EBBs because they are more realistic and usually gas guns are more durable so they can better sustain the additional force of the blowback feature. However, GBB guns are also more expensive than EBBs and an EBB with high-quality internals mixed with good maintenance can still be a solid choice!
This is it in short, but it must be furtherly explained because it is important to know what you can expect from each blowback feature in terms of how it will perform, sound, which parts are vulnerable and how long will the guns last.
Let’s first explain how each system works.
How GBB works?
As you probably already know the GBBs are powered by gas and there are different internals than those in EBBs, but the exterior looks almost identical in high-quality replicas. The gas is a superior source of power when it comes to kinetic energy and it is exactly what matters the most in blowbacks.
GBBs are manufactured in a way that the parts that are supposed to move, move in a realistic range of motion with more power which also results in louder sound and stronger recoil.
The blowback feature is also better built, so you can expect a higher quality of material and because the construction imitates the real guns, the blowback feature on GBBs is more realistic just like the blowback feature on real guns has a purpose.
How EBB works?
Electric airsoft blowbacks do not require a blowback function to work, so they are simply designed in a different way. You won’t find a motor in a real gun and that motor along with gearset and other inner parts make an AEG work for purposes of airsoft, which is to propel the plastic BB long and accurately enough, but that’s it.
There is not a single AEG that naturally fits the idea of blowbacks by construction, while GBBs do.
So, when a blowback feature is found on an AEG it is there purely for cosmetic purposes and it is done by attaching a mock bolt to the piston area of the gun. As a result, it slides when the trigger is pulled, but it also steals some energy from the gun’s primary function.
Due to electricity being incapable of powering the advanced blowback mechanism, the blowback feature on EBBs is tinier, produces less sound, does not move for the full range of motion, and produces no noticeable recoil (there are some AEGs that actually produce a noticeable recoil but they are unique and quite expensive and blowback feature is still not as those on GBBs).
GBB has stronger blowback feature than EBB
GBBs are naturally built so they can handle the blowback feature, so it is expected to have a stronger and more aggressive kick on GBBs. This also creates additional recoil which is far from the real guns, but has some effect on the aim and especially on attachments, so cheap quality sights, flashlights, lasers, and similar stuff might get damaged on hard-kicking GBBs.
EBB might not have as good a blowback feature as GBBs and the recoil is minimal to non-existent, but it is not necessarily a bad thing for those who only want a small moving bolt that makes a sound indicating the gun fired and the BB is on its way to the target.
To understand this better, watch the videos below for comparison purposes so you can decide.
The video above shows the difference quite well, also notice the vaporizing gas on the GBB that leaves the muzzle that adds to the realism.
This video shows the ability of recoil kits, but as I mentioned they are expensive and definitely not a great deal for a beginner.
EBB is less expensive than GBB
EBBs have high cap mags that can hold 500+ BBs while GBBs are limited to smaller magazines, so you will have to use gas magazines that can only handle 25-50 BBs. This means more expenses because each mag costs like $50 and you’ll need a few of them for the primary gun you use the most.
Additional expense on gas also adds up and the gun price for GBB is usually more expensive than an AEG straight from the store. (I have found a good EBB AK for $200, while the GBB version would cost me $350. There are also some $200 GBB AKs, but they are not great in my opinion and the same analogy can be used for other gun types)
EBBS are more affordable and all they require is a good battery with a charger and some electricity.
EBB is easier to maintain than GBB
GBBs may be superior in terms of blowback but it also means more moving parts to maintain and if you forget to regularly maintain your GBB, it could easily malfunction.
You must keep it away from any kind of dirt and keep it well-lubricated at all times.
With an EBB, you take care of it just the way you take care of any AEG, with only an increased caution that the dirt does not get into the sliding part.
Vulnerable parts on EBB
I have heard from people many times that the internals are under greater tear when the blowback feature is present on an AEG, but although there is a contact between the bolt and piston which also translates to the gearbox and motor does it mean that the gun will get hurt?
If the AEG is made of high-quality internals, it should not be a problem and the gun won’t suffer in my opinion, but lower quality guns may indeed suffer from time and excessive use of blowback feature, especially if the gun is usually operated at full auto.
So, to have the odds on your side go with a proven brand and aim for a good internal build. Otherwise, get a non-blowback AEG.
Be careful when you upgrade a EBB
Contrary to GBBs, EBBs may be vulnerable to upgrades such as a higher battery voltage or a greater spring that results in greater velocity.
If the gearbox is good and upgrade friendly and you upgrade it accordingly (for instance install MOSFET on 11.1 V LiPo) the gun should work, but the blowback bolt may stop working because it was not intended for such a rate of fire and pressure.
That said this is a risk you must calculate. On my EBB I do not plan to install any performance upgrades and I plan to use the stock version all the way, so I do not worry about this.
How much energy do GBBS and EBBs take to run?
Every GBB will take more gas to operate than a non-blowback version of the gas airsoft gun and the same can be said for AEGs because the battery needs to work harder to run the blowback feature.
However, this is significantly noticeable on Gas guns, while the difference is not that big on AEGs.
An AEG with blowback’s battery may last up to 1 hour lesser than the typical non-blowback AEG, but the battery will still work for 4-5 hours before it’s gone, while gas blowback consumes so much power that on a single cartridge you may see a difference of 150 BBs.
Final take on – which one should you choose?
In my opinion, you should look for other qualities of a gun rather than just a blowback feature.
If the AEG you are interested in due to great looks, quality internals, amazing performance, and affordable price and it also happens to come with a blowback feature, go for it.
If the AEG is not that good internally, nor is the performance greatest, and it’s expensive only due to the blowback feature, I would rather consider a non-blowback version of the AEG, get another model or go for a GBB.
If you enjoy the gas model and have money to pay for the gun, gas magazines, and gas itself, which may add up when you have to get a few mid-cap mags and enough gas to support it because it is your primary gun, go for it.
We can also conclude that the gas guns have better blowback features and recoil, so by default the gas guns have the advantage unless the budget is a problem and you do not want to give up on the awesome benefits of owning an AEG!
Some people including me, do not care for the absolute realism but rather want a cool-looking and well-performing gun with some realism enhancers, and in that case, it does not matter whether they choose an EBB or GBB as long as the gun works! (that said if I only had enough money to collect GBBs…).