Helium anyone using??

[RM.510bigbore]

When I first started researching big bore airgun s years ago...Using Helium give much better performance.. Higher fps... I wonder if helium is as affected by temperature drops as normal high pressure air? Does helium stress damage the frame more? I understand helium is expensive and air is free lol But for.hunting season yes it might help I'm asking I've never tried helium

 

[Miami Airgunner]

The entire idea is that airgun velocity is limited by the speed of sound in the gas propellant - and the limit of helium is much higher, but it's also a less dense gas, so my thinking is that you may need more of it overall.

Realistically, the modern PCP with a subsonic bullet is good for anything up to a damn moose, so, you outta be fine no matter what you're hunting, unless it really is a moose or polar/grizzly bear. Hell, you MIGHT be able to do those, but I'd suggest a 45/70 carbine as a backup just in case, to avoid getting youself recycled into the next generation of wildflowers and berries.

 

[mercado]

When I first started researching big bore airgun s years ago...Using Helium give much better performance.. Higher fps... I wonder if helium is as affected by temperature drops as normal high pressure air? Does helium stress damage the frame more? I understand helium is expensive and air is free lol But for.hunting season yes it might help I'm asking I've never tried helium

Hi my friend..There is a lot more information on helium use in the GTA fourums.

 

[dgeesaman]

I am honestly amazed it’s legal to waste helium on airguns and balloons.

 

[Miami Airgunner]

I am honestly amazed it’s legal to waste helium on airguns and balloons.

If we get this whole cold fusion thing right at some point helium will be readily available.

Until then, absolutely agree with you, too valuable for scientific research and industry (esp. MRI, that one is pretty important to a lot of folks)

 

[MikeVV]

All you have to do is look up to see which is more dense, (breathable) air or helium.
Air is more dense. Therefore, air has more power behind any given psi value. Less, squish ! Sorta (!) like air vs water. Air compresses, water doesn't !
Air compresses, helium compresses...more.

Also, helium molecules are smaller than (breathable) air. So it seems that any gun, with o-ring problems would become a problem sooner.

! - Air expands with heat, more than helium does, so the helium will hold its pressure, more stable going from hot to cold, visa-ve .
2 - The use of helium will be a "cleaner" medium for your gun. No moisture (water) inclusion while filling your gun, therefore...no internal rust.
3 - The last thing...compressed air is cheaper than compressed helium, and easier to get.

A simple lookup in the internet if you don't know it.

Mike

 

[BackStop]

If you have more money than sense, then I say GO FOR IT!

But that will not make you a better shot or make you esteemed in the minds of your fellow air gunners.

To each their own... I guess...

Wow, some of you people have too much money to waste. Wish I had that option.

 

[Hateful McNasty]

I thought helium was in short supply and at a premium? At least that's whats been reported.. then i guess we are talking pcp shooters with the money no object just to fire 1 pellet

 

[Miami Airgunner]

At the risk of breaking forum rules, this is the line where just going out and buying an actual firearm is the right choice.

Go get yourself a good center-fire rifle, they're cheaper by a good margin, and work a charm if you are looking to send lead downrange at high velocity.

 

[Bulletbob]

I saw a piece on the news that it is a fad to huff helium now. People are killing themselves with it.
Don't shoot with it save it for the stupid people. I have heard you can't fix stupid, maybe this stuff can.

 

[Hateful McNasty]

I saw a piece on the news that it is a fad to huff helium now. People are killing themselves with it.
Don't shoot with it save it for the stupid people. I have heard you can't fix stupid, maybe this stuff can.

How many took a helium party balloon and huffed a bit so they can talk in that funny squeak voice? .... Lots.

 

[cavedweller]

When I first started researching big bore airgun s years ago...Using Helium give much better performance.. Higher fps... I wonder if helium is as affected by temperature drops as normal high pressure air? Does helium stress damage the frame more? I understand helium is expensive and air is free lol But for.hunting season yes it might help I'm asking I've never tried helium

helium can diffuse past many seals where air can't

 

[beerthief]

When I first started researching big bore airgun s years ago...Using Helium give much better performance.. Higher fps... I wonder if helium is as affected by temperature drops as normal high pressure air? Does helium stress damage the frame more? I understand helium is expensive and air is free lol But for.hunting season yes it might help I'm asking I've never tried helium

how about Nitrogen or Argon two inert gases used in car tires because it does not expand or contract due to cold or heat . or very little ? i use nitrogen in my bicycle tires .

 

[Hateful McNasty]

how about Nitrogen or Argon two inert gases used in car tires because it does not expand or contract due to cold or heat . or very little ? i use nitrogen in my bicycle tires .

Google that and there's a few topics and article on that. Even some threads here on it .

 

[Miami Airgunner]

Here's a helpful table:

https://www.betamachinery.com/knowledge-center/speed-of-sound-in-gases-list

Note that outside of Ammonia and flammable/explosive gasses, Air is just about the best you can do, unless you wanna spend for helium and waste that precious gas for this - there's a slight edge to nitrogen, by literally a few feet per second - but it's not much.

If you're brave (stupid?) enough, just go for a build using hydrogen - you theoretically would be able to get velocities up to 4000+ FPS - that's 'burn the barrels out' speed. Of course, chances are you're just going to blow something up and injure or kill yourself, because hydrogen go boom.

If that's even in the realm of consideration, you probably would do well to consider a steam gun - if it goes badly, it could be REALLY bad, steam burns are NASTY - but, if you can pressurize steam sufficiently, the velocity of a steam powered gun should be, at least in theory, around 1800fps. That's pretty darn hot. (literally!). 750ºF will get you up to about 300Bar...

 

[beerthief]

i think the op idea was for stability , argon is not flammable but it is expensive compared to air . they used Argon to flux molten Aluminum when i used to work in the lab @ Alcoa AL .

 

[Hateful McNasty]

i think the op idea was for stability , argon is not flammable but it is expensive compared to air . they used Argon to flux molten Aluminum when i used to work in the lab @ Alcoa AL .

I almost took a transfer maintenance job there when i was with ABB.

 

[beerthief]

I almost took a transfer maintenance job there when i was with ABB.

really have no idea IF Argon could be compressed to the PSI we use ????

 

[Miami Airgunner]

really have no idea IF Argon could be compressed to the PSI we use ????

Sure, no problem there at all.

The advantage/use of argon is that it's not reactive - totally inert. Even nitrogen is reactive, oxygen is super reactive. This matters when dealing with molten metals that are reactive with these gasses, but...

It would be really really pointless for airguns. No velocity advantage and not more dry or stable than nitrogen, unless you're making some internals out of metallic sodium, it would just be pointless and expensive.

 

[beerthief]

I agree , i was just answering the OP question as i read it . The OP was after stability in varying temp's which Argon would do .