Questions about 88 gram CO2 cartridges and the Walther lever action rifle

[ronmcc4]

I'm about to buy a Walther (Umarex) lever action pellet rifle from a friend. I'm new to the 88 gram CO2 game and have some questions which are probably pretty basic:

My limited experience with C02 (I'm a PCP and springer guy) is that you don't leave the charged cartridge in the gun. The 88 gram cartridges are good for 300 or more shots which is more than I'd want to do at one session. So, can I leave the cartridge in the gun? If not, is there any other choice other than wasting a lot of CO2 from a relatively expensive cartridge?

I'm looking at the possibility of using an adapter for the 12 gram CO2 cartridges instead of loading up with a relatively expensive 88 gram CO2 cartridge. The Umarex adapter isn't available at Pyramyd, Amazon, or even from Umarex. So I'm looking at other adapters like the several copies of each other that are on Amazon. Any opinions about this from those who might have the adapters?

Related to using adapters - what is the length of a Umarex or other standard 88 gram CO2 cartridge? This is relevant because on the Walther, the cartridge fits inside a compartment underneath the butt plate so an adapter can be neither too long or too short.

Thanks in advance for the info.

 

[fivestar45]

The 88g's are pricey no question. However I would just leave the unfinished one in the gun. I've been doing this with all of my co2 guns for over 40yr's and never had a problem. In the 50's and 60's many of the co2 guns came charged from the factory and sat in the box until sold. I believe the New advise to not leave the gun charged is inspired by the legal dept. and the sales dept. (more $$ from 88g sales)

There are lots of 12g adapters out there just do a search for air source to 12g adapters. Some are for 1- 12g others take 2.