Integral and differential cross section measurements at low collision energies for the N 2 + + CH 4 / CD 4 reactions Measurements of total cross sections for collision induced dissociation, proton abstraction, and charge transfer have been made for collisions of CH 4 ϩ with CD 4 , H 2 , and Ar. The laboratory collision energies range from a few up to 400 eV, and isotopic substitutions have been made where possible to investigate any possible isotope effects, and for some reactants, to more closely identify the product ions. Cross sections for all reaction channels are observed to be small; Շ5 Å 2 for the methane target, Շ0.5 Å 2 for the hydrogen target, and Շ2 Å 2 for the argon target. For the methane and hydrogen targets, proton abstraction is observed at low energies while charge transfer occurs for energies տ10 eV. The implications of internal energy present in the CH 4 ϩ projectile for the cross section measurements is discussed. In addition, decomposition of CD 4 H ϩ is addressed in terms of recent calculations related to the structure of the CH 5 ϩ ion.