"Smoke" from barrel after firing?

[patbob]

I was out shooting my Aspen yesterday, and after shooting for a while, I noticed that there was a wisp of "smoke" from the barrel after each shot. It happened even when dry firing, and would dissipate within a fraction of a second. This was with the gun on it's high power setting and with the reservoir at 3000 PSI.

Anyone know what this might have been?

 

[Eaglehorn]

It's the compressed air used to launch your pellets. On days when it's particularly cold or humid, you can sometimes see the air. This is especially noticeable on high-power rigs.

 

[patbob]

So it's unusual, but normal. That's good to hear. I was concerned it indicated something wrong, like some internal part burning or moisture in the air inside the gun.

So, I have me a cloud gun  (well, under the right conditions anyway)

 

[Ctkny]

I like the burning idea. Lol. Coming out so fast its on firrreeeeee lol.

 

[Airgun-hobbyist]

It is basically a cloud that dissipates shortly after the shot. Take it out to shoot in 15° weather and it will cause frosting, icing, and tiny formed snow crystals to occur.

 

[Odoyle]

It's probably worn valves and or main bearings or even the piston rings try using automotive NO SMOKE oil additive to the crankcase oil and drive... OOPS wrong forum!!!

Your PCP gun shoots normal like that due to temperature.

 

[oldsparky]

I find this interesting. I have measured the moisture from my compressor and it is less than ambient. So I would say if you can see the air like your breath on a cold morning you have pretty high moisture in your air supply. I would think it would be lubrication as in dieseling. Now I may be completely wrong!

 

[Kevin23]

Do you have a good moisture trap on your pump/bottle? I've noticed as the weather cools down, I see more condensation spray out the barrel. It's not much, could definitely be mistaken for smoke. 

 

[Guest]

Moisture in the gun. This isn't a good sign. My father had the same and I noticed it and was going 'WTF?'. He sent the PCP in to AOA and received a report that it was full of moisture. No damage but the puff cloud is moisture

How are you filling your PCP? I have never had this cloud/puff regardless of the temperature or humidity when I am shooting. I've got moisture free air into my PCP though.

 

[patbob]

Moisture in the gun. This isn't a good sign. My father had the same and I noticed it and was going 'WTF?'. He sent the PCP in to AOA and received a report that it was full of moisture. No damage but the puff cloud is moisture

How are you filling your PCP? I have never had this cloud/puff regardless of the temperature or humidity when I am shooting. I've got moisture free air into my PCP though.

The Aspen has an onboard pump and I was using that. It's new, and there's supposed to be an air dryer and air filter inside one of the pump chambers, but I haven't found a way to check if the desiccant is exhausted. It did only start doing it late in the afternoon as the sun set and the temps dropped, and it was probably getting close to 100% relative humidity at the time. I cycled some air through it when I got home, and saw nothing, so I suspect it was just the cooling effect of the rapidly decompressing air chilling the ambient air briefly below the dew point, but I'll keep an eye on it to see if it repeats 

It is basically a cloud that dissipates shortly after the shot. Take it out to shoot in 15° weather and it will cause frosting, icing, and tiny formed snow crystals to occur.

Snow crystals, huh? Something to look forward to if I ever get to shoot it someplace that cold.

 

[Guest]

Hoping that's the case, yeah if you can repeat it, especially in warmer temperatures I'd be inclined to think it's moisture. Hope that's not the case!