氣(qi)(qi)(qi)動(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)操(cao)(cao)作依照原理(li)與不同槍枝(zhi)的(de)(de)機(ji)(ji)械設計方(fang)式(shi)有(you)分(fen)為(wei)四種(zhong)五類：第(di)一(yi)種(zhong)是依賴活塞(sai)(sai)原理(li)進(jin)(jin)行(xing)(xing)槍機(ji)(ji)運作的(de)(de)方(fang)式(shi)，亦即透(tou)過(guo)導(dao)流使氣(qi)(qi)(qi)體推動(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)活塞(sai)(sai)，活塞(sai)(sai)連(lian)動(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)槍機(ji)(ji)，透(tou)過(guo)這一(yi)串的(de)(de)程(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)序完(wan)成槍枝(zhi)的(de)(de)自動(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)/半自動(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)運作。然而活塞(sai)(sai)的(de)(de)運作以(yi)行(xing)(xing)程(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)為(wei)主，以(yi)行(xing)(xing)程(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)移動(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)距離的(de)(de)長短劃(hua)(hua)分(fen)，而非以(yi)活塞(sai)(sai)的(de)(de)重量或者大小劃(hua)(hua)分(fen)。第(di)二種(zhong)是利用“收集(ji)”子彈的(de)(de)高壓氣(qi)(qi)(qi)之后再(zai)導(dao)流進(jin)(jin)入汽缸推動(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)活塞(sai)(sai)或整個槍管連(lian)動(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)到(dao)槍機(ji)(ji)進(jin)(jin)行(xing)(xing)完(wan)成槍枝(zhi)的(de)(de)自動(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)/半自動(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)運作。第(di)三種(zhong)是利用第(di)二種(zhong)“收集(ji)”氣(qi)(qi)(qi)體的(de)(de)原理(li)進(jin)(jin)行(xing)(xing)推動(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)槍管連(lian)動(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)槍機(ji)(ji)完(wan)成槍枝(zhi)的(de)(de)自動(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)/半自動(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)運作。后一(yi)種(zhong)是經由氣(qi)(qi)(qi)導(dao)管導(dao)流氣(qi)(qi)(qi)體向后“吹送”槍機(ji)(ji)完(wan)成槍枝(zhi)的(de)(de)自動(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)/半自動(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)運作。因此我(wo)們(men)大約可以(yi)分(fen)為(wei)：短行(xing)(xing)程(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)活塞(sai)(sai)傳動(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)式(shi)（Short stroke）。長行(xing)(xing)程(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)活塞(sai)(sai)傳動(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)式(shi)（Long stroke）。氣(qi)(qi)(qi)井(jing)集(ji)氣(qi)(qi)(qi)操(cao)(cao)作（Gas trap）。槍口(kou)增壓器（Muzzle booster）。直噴式(shi)氣(qi)(qi)(qi)動(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)操(cao)(cao)作（Direct impingement；也稱為(wei)Direct Gas Action）。