Results of theoretical and experimental studies of the behavior of the level populations and gain factors for the np 1,3 P – ns 1,3 S and np 1,3 P –> (n-1)d 1,3 D transitions in Tl II (n = 7) and Ga II (n = 5) are presented. These levels are filled due to the charge exchange in thermal collisions of neon ions with thallium and gallium atoms in thallium--neon and gallium--neon mixtures, respectively. The total pumping rate of all levels of a metal due to the charge exchange in the hollow-cathode discharge plasma at the operating concentrations of metal vapors was shown to be equal to the gas ionization rate. The latter is defined by the number of fast electrons and is independent of the charge-exchange cross section. The exciting and deexciting collisions with slow electrons and gas atoms were taken into account for all Tl II and Ga II levels related to the laser ones, and the radiation trapping by the resonance transitions of metal ions was considered. The partial pumping rates by the charge exchange were found for levels with 0 < ΔE(∞) < 1.5 eV. Theoretical results are compared with experimental data. The behavior of the lasing characteristics is explained for the known laser transitions. The parameters of the as yet unknown transitions in the IR range are predicted.