Pump vs Cylinder

[Theskyfox]

Hi Guys,

 

Thought I'd post this after a bit of an experience I had recently. I've had a PCP air rifle for years, and always used a Hills pump to charge the gun. Never had a problem with it, always been reliable and its got a decent moisture filter on it. I've been looking recently at getting a Steyr Hunting 5...and when speaking to a dealer he seemed horrified when I asked if the pump would fit it or not. Whilst I recognise that at my local club most people choose to use a cylinder (usually because theyre too lazy to pump it) is there any real reason to "avoid" using a pump? I call BS big time on "moisure in the cylinder" being a problem at *all*. Is it me, or is this just some sort of HFT-style snobbery?

 

For what its worth I could afford a cylinder, but can't be bothered with the hasstle of cylinder testing, paying for refills and carting around a big lump of compressed air, unless I can find a genuine compelling reason to...

 

-Andrew

[Salop Matt]

Each to there own fella but i wouldnt want to got out shooting targets or hunting having just pump charged my rifle as my heart rate would be up and I wouldnt be able to hold so still.

 

Getting refills and teseting really is no hastle at all. and on a hot day trying to pump the rifle up sweating cobbs isnt my idea of fun. Also i like to think that i am using better quallity air than that of a pump.

Its all just easier and move conveniant !

 

ATB

 

Matt

[andy198712]

bottle is easier, dry air also.

if you have somewhere local to fill thats not an issue either, i pay £3-4 to fill my bottle

[Underdog]

I pump only....I think it is good for me actually!

I also believe more damage is caused on the out side of an air rifle from water than inside!

 

U.

[NIGHT SEARCHER]

I used to fill my Rifles with a Hills pump with a dry pack on it.

But i had to put new seals in both my Logun Solos .177 + .22 .

Then my Daystate Huntsman started leaking from o ring seals on the valves.

So after Stripping and re-building three of my PCPs i stripped my Logun pro and my Daystate FTR.

All five Rifles that i stripped were full of fine bits of dust and a lot of Moisture.

One of the Logun solos air tubes was starting to rust on the inside.

I rubbed it down and painted it with hammerite inside the air tube.

I stopped using the Hills pump and got a 12 lit 300 bar bottle 70 80 fills and to take in the car.

An aluminium 3 lit 300 Bar Bottle 20 fills and it`s very light.

The two cylinders fill my guns 90 to 100 times so thats 7000 to 8000 shots.

I can fill the 3 lit of the 12 lit and i take them to a dive shop about every two years for filling at £3.50 each. Test is every five years at £25 each Bottle.

I sold the Hills pump and i only fill my Rifles of Air cylinders now and i have had no leaking seals or valves since.

Filling from Air cylinders you are filling your gun with very CLEAN DRY AIR. Moisture free.

For what we spend on some of the high end Rifles why oh why pump them full of dust and Moisture that gums your seals up and if your gun has a Regulator moisture will **** that to.

After seeing what pumps put into your guns i will never use one again.

( Ho and nothing to do with being to lazy to pump )

Edited August 22, 2013 by NIGHT SEARCHER

[Underdog]

Good arguments!

 

U.

[bruno22rf]

If you are happy that your pump is removing as much moisture as the equipment found at a dive centre then carry on-you are certain that its all BS so why bother with all the "hassle" of carrying a tank-that's if testing every 5 years and paying £2-3 for a fill maybe 4-5 times a year is too much of an inconvenience. I guess that you spent a considerable amount on your rifle why not give it the best air?

[Underdog]

Sarcasm.

 

U :-(

[evo]

i use them both, cylinder frow very low pressure and to top up before going hunting i use the hills, but its personal choice really,

 

good luck with whatever you choose, but the cylinder is cleaner air

 

Best wishes Evo

 

ps it also depends on the size of cylinder on the rifle as i wouldn,t like to pump my airwolf up with a pump lol

Edited August 22, 2013 by evo

[Theskyfox]

Ahh. Thanks guys, this is what I was hoping for. Some real guidance. I am surprised that one of you found rust inside your cylinder - are they not anodized or painted on the inside?? The idea of getting dust and dirt inside the gun is something I thought was unlikely with a dry-pac on the side of the pump, but I can see your point. Dive clinder it is then. Next question..what sizes do they come in, and whats the most common that people use lol....

 

-Andrew

[NIGHT SEARCHER]

Rust. Yes most air tubes have some sort of coating but when the moisture is there for months or years they do rust from the inside.

Just like if it rained whilst you were out hunting the first job when you get home is to dry your gun off and oil it otherwise it will get rust spots in no time. Even though it`s blued and has a film of oil on it.

Has for what cylinder to go for it`s down to how many fills you need from your bottle.

And how many times you go out hunting and how many shots you take.

And what you are shooting i have had a Rat shoot on a pig farm and emptied two pcps 180 Rats in 6 hours.

Were is your nearest Dive shop to get your bottle filled if it`s miles away you need a big bottle.

Air Cylinders come in 3 lit. 6-7 lit . 10 lit. 12 lit. 15 lit. 18 lit. 20 lit. And come in 232 Bar and 300 Bar. Max pressure.

A 3 lit 300 Bar cylinder will take your gun from app 80 bar to 200 bar about 20 times ==1800 full power shots.

300 Bar cylinder will fill your a lot more times than a 232 Bar cylinder.

But a big 232 bottle will fill your gun to 200 bar a good number of times.

232 Bar bottle come a lot cheaper than 300 Bar cylinders.

You get a few cylinders on here in other sales.

Both my cylinders i bought in deals were gun and cylinder were for sale sold the guns on and kept the cylinders.

There are Air cylinders for sale on www.gunstar.co.uk loads on ebay.

Gun shops and dive shops usually have second hand ones for sale.

Have a look at www.best-fittings.co.uk for new Air cylinders and gauges.

There are two types of air valves on Air cylinders Surface only and underwater valves.

A cylinder with a surface only valve fitted only needs testing every five years.

A cylinder with an underwater valve fitted has to be tested every two and half years.

Cylinder testing there are two types visual test app £25 and hydraulic test app £45. On age of bottle.

 

Hope this helps you Andrew

 

Russ.

Edited August 22, 2013 by NIGHT SEARCHER

[Deke]

I use a Hill Mk2 pump and have done for the past 6 years. I live in a rural area and to refill a dive bottle would entail a journey of 150km each way. Petrol heap expensive, fresh air free! Recently I overhauled the pump, replacing all seals - not as difficult as I anticipated. The Hill Mk2 is built like a tank and I shall probably wear out before it does. While waiting for the seal kit to arrive I stripped both my pcps to examine the air cylinders and I was pleased to see there was no trace of any rust. I like the pump, but my choice was dictated by economics. If I lived next door to a dive centre I would get a dive bottle and use my pump for top-ups. Both solutions work well - good luck with what you choose.

[silver pigeon69]

Rust. Yes most air tubes have some sort of coating but when the moisture is there for months or years they do rust from the inside.

Just like if it rained whilst you were out hunting the first job when you get home is to dry your gun off and oil it otherwise it will get rust spots in no time. Even though it`s blued and has a film of oil on it.

Has for what cylinder to go for it`s down to how many fills you need from your bottle.

And how many times you go out hunting and how many shots you take.

And what you are shooting i have had a Rat shoot on a pig farm and emptied two pcps 180 Rats in 6 hours.

Were is your nearest Dive shop to get your bottle filled if it`s miles away you need a big bottle.

Air Cylinders come in 3 lit. 6-7 lit . 10 lit. 12 lit. 15 lit. 18 lit. 20 lit. And come in 232 Bar and 300 Bar. Max pressure.

A 3 lit 300 Bar cylinder will take your gun from app 80 bar to 200 bar about 20 times ==1800 full power shots.

300 Bar cylinder will fill your a lot more times than a 232 Bar cylinder.

But a big 232 bottle will fill your gun to 200 bar a good number of times.

232 Bar bottle come a lot cheaper than 300 Bar cylinders.

You get a few cylinders on here in other sales.

Both my cylinders i bought in deals were gun and cylinder were for sale sold the guns on and kept the cylinders.

There are Air cylinders for sale on www.gunstar.co.uk loads on ebay.

Gun shops and dive shops usually have second hand ones for sale.

Have a look at www.best-fittings.co.uk for new Air cylinders and gauges.

There are two types of air valves on Air cylinders Surface only and underwater valves.

A cylinder with a surface only valve fitted only needs testing every five years.

A cylinder with an underwater valve fitted has to be tested every two and half years.

Cylinder testing there are two types visual test app £25 and hydraulic test app £45. On age of bottle.

 

Hope this helps you Andrew

 

Russ.

 

spot on!!

Also cylinders can be made of three materials, Steel, Aluminium and Carbon Wrap(thin steel with carbon fibre wrap). Steel is heaviest, then Aluminium, then Carbon. 300 bar cylinders are only available in Steel and Carbon wrap.

 

Carbon wrap are very light, very expensive and are useless if scratched! but if money is not an issue a 15ltr 300bar can be lifted with two fingers!!

[NIGHT SEARCHER]

There are lots of 300 Bar Aluminium cylinders out there.

My 3 lit 300 Bar Bottle is Aluminium. Very Common.

Divers call them pony bottles they are used has an emergency bottle or mostly on Re-Breathers Rigs.