Time for a PCP Rifle
- Thread starter bsekf
- Start date
RegionRat
Gold $$ Contributor
Great group from a great gun.
The HW 77, HW 97, HW 98, and the TX200 are awesome spring guns.
(They are an addiction, so don't say I didn't warn you.... )
RegionRat
Gold $$ Contributor
JSH
Gold $$ Contributor
Looking hard at FX Impact MIII in 22. I want a good solid repeater for out to 100 for most days, possible 200 when I feel froggy. I am more on the slug side than pellets. Some think they are pricey, I look at it like a Fclass or PRS rifle, a pretty good deal with that in mind.
I saw mentioned some were using bottled nitrogen, any thoughts on that?
I also read where the home compressors were having some moisture issues, any hands on experience?
I saw mentioned some were using bottled nitrogen, any thoughts on that?
I also read where the home compressors were having some moisture issues, any hands on experience?
dgeesaman
Gold $$ Contributor
For some years the standard in compressors were Bauer. They still are but there are numerous options now in the $500-1000 range and reliability is the major difference. If I took the step, I’d save until I could afford the Bauer or similar.
Regardless of brand, they generate water so it’s vitally important to have proper desiccants. I believe it’s the high pressure side water filter that is too often skipped.
6000psi Nitrogen is good stuff but it takes a special fitting and regulator to manage it safely. Also the gas services usually won’t rent a tank to you for personal use. So it’s the right answer for some.
I’ve been getting my CF tank filled at a dive shop. The dive shop owner has a really good setup so I trust the air is clean and dry.
When it comes to fill tanks, hoses, and high pressure hardware I do not cheap out. Joe Brancato at Topgun Airguns is the man for that. https://www.topgun-airguns.com/. And his prices are competitive.
Regardless of brand, they generate water so it’s vitally important to have proper desiccants. I believe it’s the high pressure side water filter that is too often skipped.
6000psi Nitrogen is good stuff but it takes a special fitting and regulator to manage it safely. Also the gas services usually won’t rent a tank to you for personal use. So it’s the right answer for some.
I’ve been getting my CF tank filled at a dive shop. The dive shop owner has a really good setup so I trust the air is clean and dry.
When it comes to fill tanks, hoses, and high pressure hardware I do not cheap out. Joe Brancato at Topgun Airguns is the man for that. https://www.topgun-airguns.com/. And his prices are competitive.
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SVT_Tactical
Gold $$ Contributor
I am a dive instructor and have a compressor for filling dive tanks but I also shoot PCP. I use a Nuvair compressor. Its a large investment to be able to fill tanks myself for scuba and have the convenience for pcp. Everything compressor related is expensive. Just the fittings to go from my Scuba DIN to foster were over $100.
There are smaller compressors made that can fill PCP but aren't breathing safe air that can do it cheaper but you cant breath the air from those compressors safely.
I'm strictly interested in PCP air only so for me it's not an issue of the air being non-breathable. While doing my initial research, I was quick to realize that all the "smaller" compressors had a very short life span. In most cases- it was under one year with light to moderate usage. That is not going to cut it for me at the price point of 300>700$. I just find it hard to believe that in the year 2022 there is limited options for HP compressors. Dan
JSH
Gold $$ Contributor
I can call my local welding supply and have nitrogen tanks in short order.
As mentioned the reviews on compressors are all over the place. Local gent has a small portable cheap unit. He only fills tanks off of the gun and not the scuba tanks, his compressor is close to 10 years old. He fills his scuba tanks at a local shop for cheap.
Since it is for PCP they don’t get silly on the paper work and inspection stuff with him. They actually gave him a couple of out dated tanks a while back.
As mentioned the reviews on compressors are all over the place. Local gent has a small portable cheap unit. He only fills tanks off of the gun and not the scuba tanks, his compressor is close to 10 years old. He fills his scuba tanks at a local shop for cheap.
Since it is for PCP they don’t get silly on the paper work and inspection stuff with him. They actually gave him a couple of out dated tanks a while back.
SVT_Tactical
Gold $$ Contributor
A quality compressor that will pump to 4500 PSI + will run you several thousand dollars minimum. I know you're saying $300-$700 for only a year or two is to much but keep in mind, I budget about $400 annually for filters and oil for my compressor and misc. fittings. I searched many years and considered "cheaper" compressors but the life on those didn't leave me warm and fuzzy when you looked at long term users. I would find a compressor shop nearest to you and ask if they have any used ones for sale that they service.
Thinking cost wise you can buy a $400-$600 small compressor for PCP and if you get 2 years out of it your still better off than a large upfront investment of a high grade compressor. Several of those smaller PCP compressors have warranties for 3 years so I'd hunt those.
Or if you have a place you can get fills a large carbon tank to get filled, it could keep you shooting a long time and just get topped off as needed.
Most of my research was within this range and I was put off by the number of complaints with units that failed that were not covered under the warranty. Only a few actually received some sort of repair only to quickly fail again. Some well known 700$ compressors were burning up within a month or two and there was no relief from the manufacturer due to "high wear" components.. It's a scam if you ask me!
Dan
I had an FX Dreamline and was not pleased. I think the rifle itself might be okay, but the shrouded barrel was terrible. It could shoot nice groups for a few shots as long as the rifle was not disturbed, but the point of impact would change all the time often for no obvious reason. If you cant trust that, the system is pointless.
Moral of the story is to make sure the barrel on the rifle you select is not some cheap multi tube assembly with different thermal expansion characteristics. Make sure whatever brand you want has a model with a good solid reliable barrel. Personally, I like a solid steel barrel over any shrouded design.
This isn't a dig at FX specifically as many companies offer shrouded barrels. Just a warning to proceed with caution on this point. If a sales guy hands you something with a shrouded barrel, crunch up your face, groan a bit, then ask him for something else.
MikeT49
Gold $$ Contributor
You can buy a water cooled HP air compressor on Amazon for ~ $275. The water cooled units are only made in China. Mine is a Yong Heng. I bought it two years ago. I fill my 88 cu ft SCUBA tank about once a week. No issues so far. It will fill my tank from 1800 psi to 3200 psi in about 20 minutes. Filling a rifle takes about 30 seconds. For cooling I put the H2O pump in a 5 gallon bucket and put a 2 liter bottle with frozen H2O into the bucket. The compressor has already paid for itself and I don't have to drive 20 miles to the dive shop for fills.
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I have a scoped TX200. I have never fired it. Really heavy for my 80 year old butt.
tmwinds
Gold $$ Contributor
I own one of the $350 Chinese compressors as do at least 6 of my air rifle shooting friends. To date no one has had a problem.
My rifle has a 200 bar fill and needs to be filled when it drops to 100 bars. Around 30 shots. It take about 3 minutes to refill to 200 bars.
These cheap compressors aren’t intended to fill a large SCBA tank to 4500 psi. Heat is what kills a compressor and extended run time and extremely high pressure will over heat and destroy the compressor.
That said, mine will probably crap out on the next fill.
If you have the means a large SCBA tank filled with moisture and dust free breathing quality air is the way to go.
My rifle has a 200 bar fill and needs to be filled when it drops to 100 bars. Around 30 shots. It take about 3 minutes to refill to 200 bars.
These cheap compressors aren’t intended to fill a large SCBA tank to 4500 psi. Heat is what kills a compressor and extended run time and extremely high pressure will over heat and destroy the compressor.
That said, mine will probably crap out on the next fill.
If you have the means a large SCBA tank filled with moisture and dust free breathing quality air is the way to go.
tmwinds
Gold $$ Contributor
Yes, the compressor came with the inline high pressure filter housing and a package of filters. I don’t seem to be getting any moisture into the rifle. We’ll see what happens when the humidity is 95% this summer in Alabama.
Attachments
@PracTac, lot of guys have had issues with FX rifles... I have a Streamline in .177 and I almost wrapped it around a tree. I was so pissed about the way it shot.. Someone suggested switching to a different / heaver Diabolo pellet and sped it up and it shoots consistent and dead on.. I have a Dreamline in .22 and its is childs' play killing tiny sparrows from seated position in my truck at 55 yards..
Dusty Stevens
Shiner
I have an omega compressor and a carbon fiber 4500psi bottle. The key to hp compressors is liquid cooling
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