What do i need for pcp to refill the cylinders

[Shooter519]

So if i buy a pcp rifle or pistol for example feinwerkbau p11. What do i need to refill the cylinders etc? Please confirm item names and provide link to examples

[Twiggy]

Generally you need some sort of pump.

It can be either hand operated or electric.

For example this hand pump:

https://canadashootingsupply.ca/product ... hand-pump/

[Shooter519]

Generally you need some sort of pump.

It can be either hand operated or electric.

For example this hand pump:

https://canadashootingsupply.ca/product ... hand-pump/

Thanks. I was thinking it was perhaps more complicated than that but maybe not? So I just need to get the PCP rifles/pistol and then I just take the tank off and refill it using a pump such as the one that you showed? Generally, nothing else is needed?

I don’t need some kind of big 10 or 20 pound secondary tank etc. for this?

[Twiggy]

Generally you need some sort of pump.

It can be either hand operated or electric.

For example this hand pump:

https://canadashootingsupply.ca/product ... hand-pump/

Thanks. I was thinking it was perhaps more complicated than that but maybe not? So I just need to get the PCP rifles/pistol and then I just take the tank off and refill it using a pump such as the one that you showed? Generally, nothing else is needed?

I don’t need some kind of big 10 or 20 pound secondary tank etc. for this?

If your airgun already comes with a cylinder that holds air no, you'd only need a tank if it doesn't.

[Daryl]

You fill a PCP air rifle from a compressed air tank like a scuba tank, or air-pack tank - or you use a pump or compressor.
If you are using a "scuba" tank to fill your rifle's tank, then you also need a method to fill the scuba tank - compressor, or source that will fill it for you.
Some guys choose to use nitrogen and rent a tank and buy the gas from a welding shop supply house, or place like Praaxair which rents tanks by the year and
add costs for full tanks.
For most guys, a 200 pound nitrogen tank will last a year of quite a bit of shooting. Of course, you will have to buy the proper gauges and fill whips for the rental tank.
They do not come with the equipment you need.

[Normk]

One aspect which may not be clear is the pressure required to fill gun reservoirs. PCP reservoirs generally fill to 3,000 PSI or 3,500 PSI, while tanks typically fill to 4,500 PSI, in order to fill gun reservoirs. Pumps can be used to fill gun reservoirs directly, or to fill a tank.

Here is an example of the type of portable compressor which I take to the range in order to fill my guns. https://canadashootingsupply.ca/product ... -shipping/

[Normk]

It requires about 4 minutes to fill my HW100KT from 2,000 - 3,000 PSI

I also have a 45 minute SCBA tank which does more than a day's shooting of 14.3 gr .22 pellets @ 960 fps, 500 - 700 count.

These tanks look like this, carbon fiber with addition of valve and "fill station" connections.

Filling the HW takes something like 10 seconds.

https://dalmatianfire.com/scott-45-4500 ... old-stock/

[Normk]

If the portable compressor were to be used to fill the SCBA tank, the time would be measured with a calendar = impractical and beyond the duty cycle of the compressor.

I use some Yong Heng compressors to fill the tank. As a time comparison, the YH will fill the HW100 in less than 10 seconds, and has to be monitored closely or overpressure can occur.

Filling the SCBA from 3,000-4,500 PSI takes about 22 minutes.

Needless to say, it can be wise to plan before undertaking one strategy.

A caution regarding the Yong Heng compressors is that success is widely varied. Some have years of success, while others last only a month, for no apparent reasons.

Here is an example of a Yong Heng clone (IMO the term "clone" is meaningless other than to indicate the type of high-pressure stage and piping:

https://www.amazon.ca/BEAMNOVA-Compress ... 0cnVl&th=1

[Normk]

The Yong Heng compressors require water cooling, from either a 5 gallon bucket and the (supplied) water pump, or by connecting to a water faucet and drain, The second is my preference.

Ignoring the blue sheet metal skirting on the front, the difference between a Yong Heng type, and clone type is in the high pressure stage. Parts are generally cross compatible, up to the high pressure stage. It gets complicated to describe additional details without context.

https://www.amazon.ca/VEVOR-Pressure-Co ... s9dHJ1ZQ==

[Normk]

Hopefully, that gives you a start from where to ask further questions.

I didn't notice your location as that may help is someone can show you various gear.

[Shooter519]

Hopefully, that gives you a start from where to ask further questions.

I didn't notice your location as that may help is someone can show you various gear.

Im in alberta. I dont want to purchase a compressor. In summary i can purchase a manual pump and no scuba tank etc and just fill the gun cylinder directly?

[YepYep]

Im in alberta. I dont want to purchase a compressor. In summary i can purchase a manual pump and no scuba tank etc and just fill the gun cylinder directly?

Yes... I am still on this stage too... Not sure when I will have to get a compressor... Still trying my best to hand pumping...

Have a PP700, a Reximex RP and a CZ200 so far... However i am not a heavy shooter at all...

And Thanks to the details about the compressors Mr. Normk~ That's very helpful and a good reference when I need a compressor later....

[Normk]

You fill a PCP air rifle from a compressed air tank like a scuba tank, or air-pack tank - or you use a pump or compressor.
If you are using a "scuba" tank to fill your rifle's tank, then you also need a method to fill the scuba tank - compressor, or source that will fill it for you.
Some guys choose to use nitrogen and rent a tank and buy the gas from a welding shop supply house, or place like Praaxair which rents tanks by the year and
add costs for full tanks.
For most guys, a 200 pound nitrogen tank will last a year of quite a bit of shooting. Of course, you will have to buy the proper gauges and fill whips for the rental tank.
They do not come with the equipment you need.

Daryl, perhaps your can clarify some points?

IME, PCP rifle reservoirs fill to 3,000 or 3,500 PSI.
SCUBA tanks generally fill to ~2,200 PSI, however there are high pressure SCUBA tanks which fill to 4,000 PSI.
A 2,200 PSI SCUBA tank cannot fill PCP, and 4,000 will drop to below 3,500 in only a few fills.

Do you know anyone using 4,000 PSI SCUBA? I'm curious as I haven't encountered any, although perhaps they are very common in commercial and such applications.

SFAIK, nitrogen tanks are only available for 2,000 PSI from any supplier I have contacted, in BC. Do you know of a source? I might try that for fun if can find a source which isn't too pricey.

Who knows if nitrogen can improve my groups? As it is, they guys are encouraging me to try out for the CNIB team.

[Ironman]

A caution regarding the Yong Heng compressors is that success is widely varied. Some have years of success, while others last only a month, for no apparent reasons.

Here is an example of a Yong Heng clone (IMO the term "clone" is meaningless other than to indicate the type of high-pressure stage and piping:

I have a Yong Heng. The first stage is basically a very common Princess Auto or Crappy Tire air compressor. The second stage is the magic part. I have repaired and salvaged a few of these base units, and fails always seem to be in the connecting rod big end. They use no bearing, just steel to steel crankpin to rod end.
What I have done for mine is to run it enough to fill my used 200 dollar dive tank, and then dumped the factory supplied oil. It was already dark, which leads be to believe the oil is the fail point. I put in some Rarus 829 synthetic oil. This is the same oil I use in my Quincy 325, as it has to start in -40 conditions sometimes. The Quincy can run for years and still the oil looks good and the Yong Heng is doing the same so far.
The jury is out, we'll see.

[Daryl]

Daryl, perhaps your can clarify some points?
IME, PCP rifle reservoirs fill to 3,000 or 3,500 PSI.
SCUBA tanks generally fill to ~2,200 PSI, however there are high pressure SCUBA tanks which fill to 4,000 PSI.
A 2,200 PSI SCUBA tank cannot fill PCP, and 4,000 will drop to below 3,500 in only a few fills.

Do you know anyone using 4,000 PSI SCUBA? I'm curious as I haven't encountered any, although perhaps they are very common in commercial and such applications.

SFAIK, nitrogen tanks are only available for 2,000 PSI from any supplier I have contacted, in BC. Do you know of a source? I might try that for fun if can find a source which isn't too pricey.

Who knows if nitrogen can improve my groups? As it is, they guys are encouraging me to try out for the CNIB team.

My 60 cu in Scuba tank is a 3,000psi tank & since it is steel, it is supposedly fill-able to 3,300psi. That is what the scuba-tank filling guy out in the North of town used to fill it to.
Someone on this site noted the aluminum tanks were maxed at 3,000psi.
I had 2 carbon SCBA(I think) tanks I bought used, from Rick's place in Ontario. They are 4,500psi tanks & that is what I filled/fill them to.
These are 77 cu. in. tanks, seems to me - maybe slightly larger than that.
There are 2 outfits in town here who have 4,500psi Nitrogen tanks. I named one, Praxair. The fellows in town who are not shooting indoor air rifle silhouette are using the other outfit.
That one might be Air Liquide on the street behind Central Street.
The 4,500psi nitrogen tanks we rent/rented, are 200 pounds and hold 34 cubic feet of nitrogen. One lasted me a year of shooting, getting it down to just under 3,000psi after the 12 months of shooting.
I just recalled that when talking to one of the local chaps at the range a week or so ago, he noted the "other" supplier in town could also get 6,000psi nitrogen tanks for rental purposes. These of course, would require more expensive gauges than the 4,500psi gauges for the 4,500psi nitrogen tank.
You do not get gauges with the tanks, just the tanks. I bought my 4,500psi gauge and whip system from Air Tanks for Sale, Joe Brancato, in the States. Not cheap, but not too bad, either.
Found this on his site:
"NITROGEN HOSE ASSEMBLIES MADE IN USA! Nitrogen tanks are readily available at most welding supply shops and they are usually cheap to rent! Also, they are 6000 PSI, so you get an amazing amount of fills. If you wish to fill your Carbon Fiber tank from a large Nitrogen tank, this is it. STAINLESS STEEL tank fitting, STAINLESS STEEL Glycerin Filled Gauge that reads BAR & PSI, Highest Quality STAINLESS STEEL Bleeder with easy to turn knob and 40" x 0.070 inch ID micro-bore hose with STAINLESS STEEL strain relief at each end and STAINLESS STEEL "Foster" type quick fill = $189 + $14.50 shipped priority mail and insured."