Justify buying a compressor?

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steve-kville

steve-kville

Member
Feb 4, 2017
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Pennsylvania, United States
My state just announced that we can use airguns for small game hunting. I've been shooting a springer for years and always wanted to dip my toes into the PCP waters, but there are no scuba shops within reasonable driving distance. I am considering buying a compressor, but to come anywhere near justifying the cost, I'd almost have to fill tanks for other airgunners. Does anyone do this? Are there laws regarding filling PCP tanks for others?
 
"Tominco"Do you have a good home shop compressor?
Instead of shelling out for a stand a lone unit, you could get something like the Altaros booster compressor. It should keep your costs down a little bit. 
Tom
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I have a small one. Not a big huge one like a shop would have. Never heard of a booster. Gotta check that out, thanks.
 
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The volunteer fire dept is not a sure thing to base a pcp purchase and continual shooting on. Now if you join and become a member putting in 1 or 2 24 hour shifts a month it might work. I got many fills, made a few contributions to their fund, hung out once in awhile etc.

Since I was in state police knew them worked with them could have prob worked but it is still like them constantly doing me a favor Hat in hand kind of thing.

I still attend their fund events but I bought my own compressor. If you are going to really shoot a compressor is the way to go.

Not a small decision, a significant outlay, but it really allows you have the freedom to shoot when where and as much as you want, experiment with pellets pressures etc.

if if you do decide to get into pcp do your research and budget for gun scope and compressor. 

Get a good gun, new regulated guns coming out for under 500 dollars, scope 100 to 200 dollars and make sure your compressor is sold and serviced by a reputable US company (if your in the states). 

If if your not sure about pcp shooting still look into the 2017 shot show offerings. Also you could go hand pump but then I def go .177. 

A lot more more shots per pump. 

 
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Great replies, thanks. I used to be an EMT so I know my way around the local fire companies, many are still volunteer. Still know a few contacts. Some stations have a "cascade" system in-house. I'll see what I can do. I'm not wild about spending $2000 for a compressor. Since our state just opened up airguns for hunting, there may be an uptick of PCP guns in the area that need filled, but still not enough to justify the $2k investment.
 
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I didn't see me buying a compressor either...until two weeks ago. My son is my neighbor (across the woods). I got him into air rifles with me. Our closest fill is 40 miles one way at a Lexington, KY dive shop. We have to make an appointment to fill 4500 PSI tank. Sometimes we have to drop it off, hang around LEX for a couple hours or return the next day. I found ourselves being way too conservative about shooting for fear of running out of air.

So, two weeks ago I ordered the Omega TurboCharger from AoA. It arrived early this week. I have only taken it out of the box so far. It looks very nice, the manual is instructive, and I will be hooking it up soon. Time will tell if this keeps us shooting after winter ends and our outdoor schedules resume.

To date I've only tinkered with my air rifles, shooting them mostly at 12 yards inside. I've shot a bit outdoors just to know where to hold for 20 and 30 yard squirrel shots. I think I would like to do some of the 50 yard and beyond shooting so many here write about all the time. 

It was a bunch of money, almost the same I put in my Air Wolf MCT about a month ago. 
 
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"bowwild"I didn't see me buying a compressor either...until two weeks ago. My son is my neighbor (across the woods). I got him into air rifles with me. Our closest fill is 40 miles one way at a Lexington, KY dive shop. We have to make an appointment to fill 4500 PSI tank. Sometimes we have to drop it off, hang around LEX for a couple hours or return the next day. I found ourselves being way too conservative about shooting for fear of running out of air.

So, two weeks ago I ordered the Omega TurboCharger from AoA. It arrived early this week. I have only taken it out of the box so far. It looks very nice, the manual is instructive, and I will be hooking it up soon. Time will tell if this keeps us shooting after winter ends and our outdoor schedules resume.

To date I've only tinkered with my air rifles, shooting them mostly at 12 yards inside. I've shot a bit outdoors just to know where to hold for 20 and 30 yard squirrel shots. I think I would like to do some of the 50 yard and beyond shooting so many here write about all the time. 

It was a bunch of money, almost the same I put in my Air Wolf MCT about a month ago.
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Better stock up on pellets! LOL! During nice weather,I find myself shooting nearly every day! Once you set up your range and now that you have continual air, you will be shooting all the time trying to get smaller and smaller groups. My kids tell me I'm going through a mid-life crisis. Sure is a lot of fun, not sure I would call it a crisis! LOL
Best of luck with your new purchase,
NM
 
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I checked into nitrogen and a large supply tank that could handle 6000psi with 120$ refills.
My investment was gonna be around 1350$ for the tank plus the first 120$ fill then I had to check into a regulator to tame down the 6000 psi to safely fill my tanks from it.
The regulator was gonna be another 400$ to 500$ and in the end I just went with air tanks.
I know of places you can rent the stuff and go cheaper if you go nitrogen instead of buying it but I like to own.
 
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A good compressor setup with high side drying filter is going to run you just under $2000. Add a tank with fill setup and you're somewhere in the $2500 to $2700 range.
Do it right and you will do it only ONCE. From there on, it's a dramatically different relationship you will have with your PCP.

1. You can shoot freely. No more being afraid to shoot because you know you will have to pump
2. You can shoot more accurately. The post pump fatigue that degrades you shooting ability is no more
3. You can simply have fun and be done. Pumping after a shooting session is no longer your negative reward for doing a few shots.
4. Shoot more. A 200 - 400 shot session is now easily doable. Shoot a couple mags, refill in 30 seconds, reload shoot again effortlessly
5. Fills to full pressure are without question. You don't need to find a shop that is willing to fill to 4500 PSI.
6. Unlimited air supply opens the door to easier tuning and advanced work on gun internals like regulators.
7. Time going to a dive shop, waiting for the refill, and driving back is saved with ever fill
8. You can top up your tank any time. No more nursing that last bit of air or not filling your gun to full pressure.
9. With a GOOD compressor and dryer setup (near Grade - E air), you preserve your equipment life.
10. You control the quality instead of hoping the paintball shops's filters are OK. A dive shop is probably tested periodically.
11. You have the option for continuously monitoring your air quality for just $100
12. Buy quality construction and the compressor will last a very long time. Junk compressor - expect to buy again soon.
13. Once a system is purchased, it continues to provide you with PCP convenience and expanded capability.

What isn't in the advantage list?
a. DOES NOT Save you money - Takes years to break even. This shouldn't even be a consideration. If you think this is a reason, you're just talking yourself into things.
b. DOES NOT Let you fill tanks for profit - The wear and tear of using a compressor worsens with increasing usage. A single user's needs are easily met with something like a Carette, definitely exceeded with a Bauer JR. You want your wear to be at a rate that keeps the compressor usable for you essentially indefinitely. You won't make enough money doing fills to buy another compressor. Adding the liability and wear of filling someone else's tanks is not something I would want.

Save up and do it right if you want to do it. There are lower cost options, but the figure I have above is what you should have in mind to do things comfortably, properly, and expect many years usability.

 
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The advantage of nitrogen is no moisture entering your gun. Once you have all the goodies to do nitrogen, the fill process is very simple and quick. My total cost for the nitro setup was 881.82, and that includes the carbon fiber tank. The first step in going nitrogen is to make sure you have a reliable source for the nitrogen, some vendors will lease to you for pcp guns, some wont. My lease and first bottle was around 120.00, a return for full bottle is 80.00, 23.00 a month for the lease.
 
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"Bobinthewind"The advantage of nitrogen is no moisture entering your gun. Once you have all the goodies to do nitrogen, the fill process is very simple and quick. My total cost for the nitro setup was 881.82, and that includes the carbon fiber tank. The first step in going nitrogen is to make sure you have a reliable source for the nitrogen, some vendors will lease to you for pcp guns, some wont. My lease and first bottle was around 120.00, a return for full bottle is 80.00, 23.00 a month for the lease.
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Who do you ask about the setup? I have a greatwhite and I suppose I could fill it, then make my fills from the greatwhite? Another dumb question, but how big is the tank? Do you get the gas from a welding supply? My questions may sound pretty elementary, but I want to be able to speak the lingo before I talk to them. If you need to, pm me with the details.
Thanks!
 
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"Wadcutter"Most fire departments around here have fill stations. If you are friends with any firemen in your area they may help you out with a fill now and then. I get my tanks filled to 4800psi at our local station and by the time I get home they settle to 4500psi.

Steven
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I consider myself very lucky to have a career as a fireman. I also volunteer at a different department on my off days. This allows me free access to the cascade systems. I also have a 3rd dept that I used to fill at before I moved. I was not a member there. So, I was always very humble and thankful when they would fill my bottles up. 
The fire officers have to think about insurance lawyers, costly repairs, and injuries if something goes wrong while your bottle is being filled. It's no surprise that some of them are leery when presented with a bottle to fill with an "unknown" history. When I presented my bottle to the FD for filling, to point out that it passed it's scheduled hydro testing. I also made sure it looked nice and clean without any damage or stickers all over it. 

I prefer to fill at the FD for a few reasons (besides the obvious for me). FD and Scuba shops are filling their bottles with clean, filtered, breathable air. They get inspected, tested, and maintained on a routine basis (generally, this is done annually). The compressors cost 10's of thousands of $ and have multiple stages of redundant filters throughout the system. They way I look at it, if it's good enough for me to breathe, it's going be great for my rifle!
If you guys have the ability to fill at a FD, great for you! Some tips... If you feel the dept you are using requires a bribe, cookies are nice and easy. But, consider mixing up your bribe with something on the healthy side such as fresh fruit. You might also consider some type of meat if your going to a paid dept. (before they've gone shopping for their dinner). Even something like an 8 pack of gatorades or some "Clif" type energy bars. Your goal is to stand out as that "real nice guy" that brought that "nice thing". Also, try mixing it up with a few different stations. If you seem to always be knocking on the door for a fill, you might start to stand out for the wrong reasons. 
Tom
 
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