Investigations of pulsed volume discharges at pressures $p\sim1$ atm in nitrogen, CO$_2$:N$_2$:He mixtures, and mixtures of noble gases and halogens are reviewed from the point of view of their use in lasers. The review examines self-sustaining discharges in which the initiating electrons are produced by illuminating the gap with an auxiliary spark, with an x-ray source, etc., and non-self-sustaining discharges with external gas ionization by fast electrons. Data on the contraction of volume discharges are presented. A special section is devoted to high-pressure discharges in CO$_2$ lasers.