氣(qi)(qi)動(dong)(dong)(dong)操(cao)(cao)作(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)依照原理與(yu)不同槍枝(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)的(de)機械設計方式有分(fen)為(wei)四種(zhong)(zhong)五(wu)類(lei)：第(di)一種(zhong)(zhong)是(shi)依賴(lai)活塞(sai)(sai)(sai)原理進(jin)行槍機運(yun)(yun)作(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)的(de)方式，亦即(ji)透過(guo)導(dao)流(liu)使氣(qi)(qi)體推動(dong)(dong)(dong)活塞(sai)(sai)(sai)，活塞(sai)(sai)(sai)連動(dong)(dong)(dong)槍機，透過(guo)這(zhe)一串的(de)程(cheng)序完(wan)成槍枝(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)的(de)自(zi)動(dong)(dong)(dong)/半(ban)自(zi)動(dong)(dong)(dong)運(yun)(yun)作(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)。然而活塞(sai)(sai)(sai)的(de)運(yun)(yun)作(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)以(yi)行程(cheng)為(wei)主，以(yi)行程(cheng)移動(dong)(dong)(dong)距離的(de)長短劃分(fen)，而非以(yi)活塞(sai)(sai)(sai)的(de)重量或(huo)者(zhe)大小劃分(fen)。第(di)二種(zhong)(zhong)是(shi)利用“收集(ji)”子彈的(de)高壓氣(qi)(qi)之后(hou)再導(dao)流(liu)進(jin)入汽缸推動(dong)(dong)(dong)活塞(sai)(sai)(sai)或(huo)整(zheng)個(ge)槍管連動(dong)(dong)(dong)到槍機進(jin)行完(wan)成槍枝(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)的(de)自(zi)動(dong)(dong)(dong)/半(ban)自(zi)動(dong)(dong)(dong)運(yun)(yun)作(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)。第(di)三(san)種(zhong)(zhong)是(shi)利用第(di)二種(zhong)(zhong)“收集(ji)”氣(qi)(qi)體的(de)原理進(jin)行推動(dong)(dong)(dong)槍管連動(dong)(dong)(dong)槍機完(wan)成槍枝(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)的(de)自(zi)動(dong)(dong)(dong)/半(ban)自(zi)動(dong)(dong)(dong)運(yun)(yun)作(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)。后(hou)一種(zhong)(zhong)是(shi)經由氣(qi)(qi)導(dao)管導(dao)流(liu)氣(qi)(qi)體向(xiang)后(hou)“吹送”槍機完(wan)成槍枝(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)的(de)自(zi)動(dong)(dong)(dong)/半(ban)自(zi)動(dong)(dong)(dong)運(yun)(yun)作(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)。因此我們大約可(ke)以(yi)分(fen)為(wei)：短行程(cheng)活塞(sai)(sai)(sai)傳動(dong)(dong)(dong)式（Short stroke）。長行程(cheng)活塞(sai)(sai)(sai)傳動(dong)(dong)(dong)式（Long stroke）。氣(qi)(qi)井集(ji)氣(qi)(qi)操(cao)(cao)作(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)（Gas trap）。槍口增(zeng)壓器（Muzzle booster）。直噴式氣(qi)(qi)動(dong)(dong)(dong)操(cao)(cao)作(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)（Direct impingement；也稱(cheng)為(wei)Direct Gas Action）。