Air Tank setup questions

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WN0912

Member
Dec 7, 2020
66
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Ohio, United States
Hello again.

I'm getting close to purchasing my first pcp rifle - I've started a post in the pcp forum and already have some great comments. Briefly, I'm getting close to a decision; Air Venturi Avenger (front runner right now), Benjamin Maximus ($147 on sale), Gauntlet, or DAS. Others will probably be added to the short list as others recommend them to me and I research them.

Here's the thing. If I get the Maximus, I can probably get by with a hand pump as it only needs 2,000psi. But if I buy a second or third pcp, most probably the guns will be at least 3,000 psi and the hand pump won't be an option.

I've read enough posts about the compressors and possible problems. Also, If I got a compressor I'd be buying at the low price point which usually means more problems.

So I think I'm settled on a tank. I don't hunt, the rifle will be used in my back yard, and unlike many of you, I highly doubt I'll be shooting hundreds of rounds in a single day. With all that said, for the life of me, I can't figure out what the heck I need to buy. I'm not big on spending money I don't have so I like to keep expenses to the bare minimum.

People here talk about white whales for $800? Yikes! There's no way I'm spending that kind of money. For me, this is a simple back yard rifle to shoot once in a while. I don't want to make a huge investment.

To that point, can you help me pick out or find a low end option for a tank? I'm thinking I better get 4,500psi even if I don't need it right now. But I've looked on Amazon and there's lots of 'bottles' that say 4,500psi for under $100 but something tells me they won't work or you guys would at least talk about them. Is there a difference between paintball bottles and pcp rifle bottles?

Then, how do I know what fittings I need to get the bottle filled?

By the way, I have a welding/gas supply house 10 minutes away that fills tanks/bottles. I'm going to reach out to them to get info from them too.

Finally, if I'm spitting in the wind and this sport is really a whole lot more expensive than I thought it was, let me know. My wife and I are on a limited retirement budget and I love shooting, but I have to be reasonable about purchases. I know you can understand that.

Thanks as always for your help.
 
Air tanks, especially DOT approved, are expensive. For a 3000 psi tube gun a hand pump is very doable. If your welding shop recharge is inexpensive you could get a small pony tank. Benjamin and Ninja sell one but prices start at $325.00 for new ones. Keep in mind that DOT air tanks need a hydro test every 5 years if you are having a shop fill them. FWIW I have never seen a welding shop fill air tanks, mostly diving or paintball shops. You might check prices for high pressure nitrogen if your welding shop does that but in the long run if you shoot 3000 psi guns a hand pump is still the least expensive alternative. The Chinese ones seem to hold up good.




 
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Get a Springer if you only shoot 40 yards or less or specifically buy the RWS 54 and 56 if intending to shoot 100 yards and expect to actually consistently hit targets even past 150 yards that's going to give PCPs a good run past 100 yards.

A Maximus can easily and consistently outshot all currently made Springers past 40 yards on paper except the RWS 54 and 56 past 80-100 yards.

Expect nickle sized groups with the Maximus at 60-65 yards once you find it's preferred pellet.
 
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Just reread your post and if you are only backyard shooting and don't kill things (hunt) buy a good used FWB300s and put a light weight scope on it. Accuracy is very hard if not impossible to beat as a self contained back yard gun even more accurate than the RWS 54 and 56 out to 45 yards. It's so boringly accurate you probably buy a regular recoilling sporter Springer like a Beeman R7-HW30s or HW97K or R9-HW95 or TX200 or RWS 34-48-52 so it gives you more of a challenge to actually allow you to be able to sometimes miss your shots and you won't be paranoid since they don't shoot into the exact same hole all the time like the 300s does so easily and effortlessly all day long you think you shot one hole then missed the paper completely for the rest of the shots.

It's also really super easy to cock and very quiet compared to the rest of the spring guns.

It would most definitely be a 177 caliber for me for urban backyard no hunt kills shooting turned down to 12fpe or less.
 
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IF you're getting a compressor (I have a Yong Heng & it works better than I expected) get a 4500psi carbon fiber SCBA tank. If the structural integrity is good (no visible dents or "chunks", no burn marks) you should be alright even if it's older than 15 yrs from mfg date. You won't be able to have it filled by a shop but that's why I said IF you're getting a compressor. Even if you get a bad valve (rare) I can get them for $15. Just PM me if I can help. Gerry 
 
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I also suggest a quality springer, but if you want to get into pcps, I suggest that you can indeed use a hand pump. Pick a rifle with a smaller cylinder and a good shot count. I don't have a problem using a hand pump with my Huntsman's 168cc capacity. If it had a 480cc bottle, I would not say the same. I got a compressor when I started shooting more than 40 shots per session (one fill). It is simply inconvenient to stop and spend 10min pumping. Tanks, compressors, and pcp rifles do get expensive. Small tanks are best for people with their own compressors. Use the online calculator to learn how many fills a small tank will provide a specific rifle. If you have to pay to fill tanks, you probably will want a 75cuft tank ($580). With all this considered, I would buy a Yong Heng Compressor for $250 and direct fill the rifle - change the filter regularly. Basically you get a compressor for the price of a hand pump. It may break, but parts are available on eBay or Aliexpress. For a bigger investment, the Hill compressor for $999 looks very nice. Enjoy!
 
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As far as air rifles go, an air avenger for $349 cant be beat for price and way more accurate than any springer or piston. It is a PCP, but it is Made in China. See what Crossman has that competes head to head with that and if its made in the states. As far as air tanks, I went big-bought an industrial size 250 tank, had the local weld shop put 4500psi in it and got a fill station off of Amazon. The tank has a CGA-347 valve on it and make sure the fill station nipple is a male cga-347. Word of caution here, this tank is not portable by any means. Its empty weight is 150# and 180# full. The fill station is just an adapter between the tank valve and the gun. It has a pressure gauge on it and a hose bleed valve. when filling from the tank turn its valve extremely slow until gun is at its upper pressure. If not very careful with this set up u could blow the seals out of the gun very easily. This tank certified to 6750psi cost me $370. I have a regulator on the way and that is where the big bucks come in at $542, but I will be able to set the delivery pressure and not worry about blowing the gun up. This tank is 444 cubic foot displacement, 51" high and 9" in diameter. It is the size of the larger welding bottles. Holds enough air for hundreds of refills.
 
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