You guys with PCPs

[Sprocket]

are to be envied. A lot of PCPs are beautiful, accurate guns. I am in love, no, lusting for a PCP that looks like a Daystate Regal. The only problem is I can't get it through my head how I could lay my gun in the dirt and pump it up with a durned ol' tire pump. Can't afford a good compressor, so pumping I will be.
Will someone tell me how much time and effort I will be spending pumping if I shoot on average around 500 pellets a week?
I'm not putting down PCPs at all. I would sure like to own one. I prefer .177 caliber and want to shoot at maximum fps that is accurate.
I know there are a lot of variables, but tell me what you can. Thanks. 

Forgot to add: There is supposed to be a dive shop in a town not too far from here. I would bet that if he is there now he won't be as soon as I buy a PCP. We are just a little past nowhere so tanks are out.

 

[JDShapp]

There are other options than a dive shop. You could also ask to get a fill at a firehouse or a place that deals with firefighter supplies. Also when I fill my PCPs I lay them down in the case I carry them in so they're not on the ground. As for shooting .177 you will get more shots per fill than the higher calibers. I know I get about 16 good shots from my .25 marauder, but I've heard the .177 version gets closer to 30 or 40. 

If you don't mind single loading then by far the easiest PCP to fill and use would be a .177 Discovery.

 

[HauntedMyst]

At 40 shots per fill, you'd have 13 filling session per week. To me that's a lot of pumping. If you are young and fit, it may seem doable.

 

[azuaro]

Sprocket:

I shoot a new Daystate Regal XL in .177 at about 20 ft./lb. (925 fps)...This is as this gun came set for the US market. ...I acquired this gun brand new about 6 weeks ago and it shoots 70 good shots if the air cylinder is filled to the MAX 240 BAR (about 3,500 PSI) and 48-50 good shots if only filled to 200 BAR...The gun is darn accurate out of the box...

I fill it with an aluminum Scuba to 200 BAR, and if the Scuba is filled to 200 BAR (Full capacity) it gives me somewhere like 10-12 refills before I need to top it off...I shoot above 125 BAR which is the point where the velocity drops down in the curve more than 2-2.5% (below 900 fps + or -)...

.From 240 BAR to 125 BAR (70 shots) you have a consistency of about 1-1.5% (9-12 fps) which is extraordinary for a gun that is not regulated...The slingshot hammer system in this gun seems to be excellent and very efficient...I bought an Altaros regulator and tested it thoroughly, it is a good regulator but the gun doesn't need it and I removed it. I got the very same 70 shots but at a lower 890 -870 fps. with about 1% spread...EXCELLENT! but then I wanted 925 fps. and an additional variance of 4-5 fps. that the unregulated gun provides makes no real difference in accuracy...

For what I use this rifle (Pest control, plinking, some 50 + yard fancy shots, and some hunting, this gun, this velocity and this accuracy is more that I really need.

I started hand filling PCP's some 20 years ago or so with hand pumps, I bought a Hill 8-9 years ago as a backup for whenever we go to competitions...One time there was no air available and we didn't bring the air tank with us thinking that we would get air at the range...Well, the competitors were kind of not too friendly or willing to provide us air and we did not shoot after driving 300 miles...I used this pump 2-3 times and is quite a work out, the pump I believe is for 200 BAR but I forced it up to 240 BAR recently with no issues...

Pumping is OK if you give it some time in between filling and shooting...Specially if you are going to shoot accuracy at long ranges and also helps the pump in not overheating...

500+ pellets a week means about 7-8 full 240 fillings in this gun, it takes roughly 150 - 170 pumps per fill on my gun and with my Hill pump....I can fill the cylinder in about 15 -20 minutes taking breaks and I sweat somewhat, I am not that young and are not ready for a hart attack so I take it easy...There are some posts over the Internet in how to use a shop compressor as a first stage pump in combination with a hand pump, you alleviate about 50% of the load and makes pumping more appealing or so they say... I haven't tried it.

So don't be discouraged, if you shoot daily this means a daily work out of 20 minutes and that is not too bad...If you shoot mostly over the weekend, then 2-3 cycles per day can become quite a workout, but is doable and if you get into the shop compressor thing, that seems not too bad...

Another alternative is to design a crankshaft and attach the pump to a motor with a transmission (cheap on eBay), some 10 RPM per minute for keeping the pump not too hot and for filling your gun in 15-20 minutes while you drink a very cold beer will be very easy to do...In my youth days I did this with a bicycle hand pump with a 30 RPM high torque scrap motor that my dad had in his shop...That was my friend's club refilling station for a full summer until the pump broke and my dad had some compassion and got us a small shop compressor....Welcome to the first world he said!

Regards,

AZ 

 

[BigTinBoat]

"HauntedMyst"At 40 shots per fill, you'd have 13 filling session per week. To me that's a lot of pumping. If you are young and fit, it may seem doable.

I've got my 1720T set at 16FPE (820-850-820) for about 21 shots. It takes me just about 21 strokes with MK3 to fill again so basically 1 stroke per shot. Don't really need to be young and fit for that.

 

[ztirffritz]

Check here to see if your location has a fill station nearby: http://www.crosman.com/discover/airguns/pcp-resources/find-a-fill-station

If it does, add it to our map as well: https://www.zeemaps.com/airgun_nation

 

[HauntedMyst]

"BigTinBoat"

"HauntedMyst"At 40 shots per fill, you'd have 13 filling session per week. To me that's a lot of pumping. If you are young and fit, it may seem doable.

I've got my 1720T set at 16FPE (820-850-820) for about 21 shots. It takes me just about 21 strokes with MK3 to fill again so basically 1 stroke per shot. Don't really need to be young and fit for that.

I'm not sure what your point is. You are comparing apples to oranges. a pistol vs. a rifle with a much larger reservoir, 21 shots vs. 40 to 70 shots at double the FPE.

 

[Sprocket]

Thanks Azuaro (and everyone else) that removes alot of my concern about pumping up PCPs. 
I have considered using a rotary gear pump ran off a pto as a compressor. Also, thought about using the hydraulics on a tractor to extend a cylinder that pushes another cylinder to fill a tank. Lots of thought to make the second idea work, but I think it would be possible.
I have also very, very, briefly considered making a pump that works like a Thigh Master exerciser. That way the Mrs. could pump up a small tank while she is washing dishes. Fortunately, for me I abandoned that idea rather quickly.

BTW, I checked with our local fire dept. They charge their own SCBA tanks, but only to a max. pressure of 2000 lbs.

 

[BigTinBoat]

"HauntedMyst"

"BigTinBoat"

"HauntedMyst"At 40 shots per fill, you'd have 13 filling session per week. To me that's a lot of pumping. If you are young and fit, it may seem doable.

I've got my 1720T set at 16FPE (820-850-820) for about 21 shots. It takes me just about 21 strokes with MK3 to fill again so basically 1 stroke per shot. Don't really need to be young and fit for that.

I'm not sure what your point is. You are comparing apples to oranges. a pistol vs. a rifle with a much larger reservoir, 21 shots vs. 40 to 70 shots at double the FPE.

Double the FPE? Doesn't the stock .177 Mrod shoot just over 20fpe? My 1720T is shooting 16FPE. If he were to just shoot 20 shots out of the Mrod then pumping would just be maybe 30% more then mine. (16fpe x 1.3 = 20.8fpe) So 1.3 pumps per shot or 26 pumps per 20 shots. Apples to Apples.
I was pointing out that it can be done easily without a lot of effort. You don't have to shoot the gun all the way to the bottom of string if you don't want to.

When I pump my 13ci bottle I do 50 strokes before stopping to allow the pump to cool. 50 strokes done slowly (1 sec up and 1 sec down) takes under 2 minutes. So if shooting 20 out of the MRod .177 should take under a minute.

 

[JohnL57]

I have a couple Marauders, a .22 & a .25 that are tuned to work off lower pressure fills. The .22 operates on a 2100 psi fill, gives 25 good shots at around 22 fpe. The .25 uses a 2400 psi fill, gives 20 good shots at 34 fpe. You do need to have a chrony and do the tuning work (or have it done), but I get a ton of fills out of a 3300 psi scuba tank, shouldn't be that much work to pump to those pressures. Mine are both Gen 1s and shoot very accurately.

 

[Removed]

My thoughts are this,if your willing to shell out that much $$$ for a new PCP then eventually you will put more money out down the road towards a tank. I used a pump for years till finally I took the plunge and bought a large tank along with a buddy bottle to carry into the field.Starting out with a pump is normal,enjoy the gun and you will find PCP is another animal to the air gun hobby.My guess is eventually you lend up with a fill tank..hehe

 

[HauntedMyst]

"BigTinBoat"

"HauntedMyst"

"BigTinBoat"

"HauntedMyst"At 40 shots per fill, you'd have 13 filling session per week. To me that's a lot of pumping. If you are young and fit, it may seem doable.

I've got my 1720T set at 16FPE (820-850-820) for about 21 shots. It takes me just about 21 strokes with MK3 to fill again so basically 1 stroke per shot. Don't really need to be young and fit for that.

I'm not sure what your point is. You are comparing apples to oranges. a pistol vs. a rifle with a much larger reservoir, 21 shots vs. 40 to 70 shots at double the FPE.

Double the FPE? Doesn't the stock .177 Mrod shoot just over 20fpe? My 1720T is shooting 16FPE. If he were to just shoot 20 shots out of the Mrod then pumping would just be maybe 30% more then mine. (16fpe x 1.3 = 20.8fpe) So 1.3 pumps per shot or 26 pumps per 20 shots. Apples to Apples.
I was pointing out that it can be done easily without a lot of effort. You don't have to shoot the gun all the way to the bottom of string if you don't want to.

When I pump my 13ci bottle I do 50 strokes before stopping to allow the pump to cool. 50 strokes done slowly (1 sec up and 1 sec down) takes under 2 minutes. So if shooting 20 out of the MRod .177 should take under a minute.

I was talking about the Daystate Regal, which is about 30fpe. The Mk3 may be more efficient than the Mk2 that I have because its definitely not one stroke per shot, whether it be on my Huntsman, my BSA 12fpe guns or the Brocock Contour that I used to have. Filling the Huntsman after 40 shots took a lot of pumping and had to be done over time to keep the pump from getting too hot.