Measurements of the gain in an amplifier discharge tube containing a fixed composition, 1:1.5:5.6, Co₂-N₂-He gas were made under both ac [sic] excited and pulsed discharge conditions. While the ac gain results indicated a possible increase in gain with increasing current densities, the pulsed discharge experiments failed to bear out this extrapolation. Instead, the gain reaches a limit that is apparently due to the availablity of CO₂, but persists for 240 to 300 microseconds after the conclusion of the excitation pulse. Population inversion was calculated from the pulsed gain measurements indicating peak levels of 10¹³ to 10¹⁴ approximating the total number of CO₂ molecules present in the discharge tube. Optimum gain was achieved at a pressure of 16 Torr, while maximum population inversion was measured at a pressure of 10 Torr. These results indicate that high-powered laser action cannot be achieved by extension of the linear design used. The results also indicate that experimenters cannot assume the acheivement of high-peak-power output based on measured average-power output and the exitation duty cycle.