A circuit breaker unit has first and second arcing contact pieces. A breaker gap is formed between the two arcing contact pieces. A switching gas channel leads to the breaker gap and guides the switching gas to a switching gas outlet opening of the circuit breaker unit. The switching gas channel is formed with first and second pipe sections that overlap each other at least in sections and have discharge openings in their cover surfaces. Continuous discharge openings in the first and in the second pipe sections are axially offset in relation to each other.