N/A EXPLODING PCP???

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Ultralight

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Apr 15, 2025
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I've often wondered about PCP air tube or bottles exploding, but I thought that I was overly paranoid, as I've never heard of this danger before.

Well, today I received pictures from a friend who purchased a new well regarded PCP. He sighted it a few weeks ago (I have to check our texts) and it was MOA at 75 yards so he was happy.

He is an experienced PCP and piston airgun owner of many years and is a mature, seasoned, and meticulous outdoorsman.

Today at home, there was an explosion and the PCP's airtube literally split in half wide open from one end to the other with two half cylinders mangled. The force was so high that the barrel bent, and the gun case was shattered along with different parts of the gun. AND some other hunting equipment nearby was also broken.

This is stunning, and I'm not sure what to think. If he were holding it, I believe that it would have taken his arm or hand out, and possibly blinded or deafened him, or worse.

Has this happened before elsewhere?? How dangerous are PCPs to such explosions?

I'm not mentioning any brands for now as I don't want to the focus to be on a particular brand, but the safety of PCP itself.

Thanks
 
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modded pcp?
more often than not it’s user error but if it’s a manufacturer problem, i would think we would all like to know.. plus, us hobbyists that are active in the forum are curious beings. tell us

i think it would be nice to know what manufacturer for owners to at least be aware of the potential hazard said model may pose. i believe the manufacturer would also be wise to investigate into the issue to avoid future liability it the malfunction was indeed a design/material failure. nobody want to pay hard earned money for a potential bomb next to their face.
 
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I think the focus needs to be on the manufacturer as well as PCP safety. They need to react aggressively to find the issue and possibly make a recall. I think your friend should also be obligated to make them address it by ANY means it takes.
Yes you're right, we don't hear about PCP failures at the level of explosions often at all. Knowing ALL the facts would be helpful.
There was a case some years back. The details of the incident were sketchy at best... kind of a he said, she said thing. Nobody was physically harmed but reputations were definitely affected. I still don't think we know the true/full story.
 
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Ultralight said:
I've often wondered about PCP air tube or bottles exploding, but I thought that I was overly paranoid, as I've never heard of this danger before.

Well, today I received pictures from a friend who purchased a new well regarded .30 caliber PCP. I think he went to the range once to sight it in. MOA at 75 yards. Happy.

He is an experienced PCP and piston airgun owner of many years.

That was a few weeks ago. Today at home, there was an explosion and the PCP's airtube literally split in half wide open from one end to the other with two half cylinders mangled. The force was so high that the barrel bent, and the gun case was shattered along with different parts of the gun. AND some other hunting equipment nearby was also broken.

This is stunning, and I'm not sure what to think. If he were holding it, I believe that it would have taken his arm or hand out, and possibly blinded or deafened him, or worse.

Has this happened before elsewhere?? How dangerous are PCPs to such explosions?

I'm not mentioning any brands now as I don't want to the focus to be on a particular brand, but the safety of PCP itself.

Thanks
Click to expand...
without specifics its difficult to comment on this particular incident, but in general, air tubes and cylinders fatigue with time and thus should be replaced... i think Steyr requires their airtubes to be replaced at 10 years? not sure? but the point is... always follow manufacturer guidelines and replace H.P. parts at recommended service times.
 
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If you were sent pictures, post them so we can see what happened. How long ago did he purchase it? He needs to ensure the manufacturer is aware of what happened so if it is a defect it can be fixed, and as previously mentioned, a recall initiated if there is any chance it could happen with another airgun made by this manufacturer.

I would also like to know the make, model and year manufactured so if I own one, I can immediately degass it and wait to hear the outcome! No-one wants a potential bomb in their house, or worse yet, their hands!
 
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If there was no tinkering or modifications done, the manufacturer needs to be contacted immediately. This could be a safety issue due to material defects that weren't caught, and there could be others at risk. I would like to know the make and model, and honestly if it is a big enough manufacturer then they probably have a presence here and it would be nice to see it handled publicly.
 
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We don't know yet, but im going to bet on hydrocarbon contamination. These threads used to pop up with paintball guns back in the day too. For those worried about air tubes. I've had my mrod charged for the last 15 years, and it used to be hand pumped and filled with water, it got scotch Brite buffed and acetone cleaned before reassy for guage block orings.

These things happen occasionally, and are usually a combination of things that seem benign but add up. I hope to see pics.
 
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To get the described explosive effect would most likely require application of external high energy pressure (think shooting a tank with a .30 pb) or an exceptionally high internal pressure. Aluminum will shatter under extreme load

The other main possibility is a very large linear defect in the bottle, essentially a seam in the aluminum.

Also highly unlikely it is a CF bottle as failure modes for a wrapped cylinder are different due to layered material.

I too would like to see these pictures.

The owner needs to immediately file a report with the consumer product safety commission
www.cpsc.gov

CPSC.gov

www.cpsc.gov www.cpsc.gov
 
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jps2486 said:
A scratch or ding on an air tank is a stress concentration point where a rupture could occur. I suggest everyone periodically inspect their airgun tanks and replace them if there is any surface damage.
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And wet air corroding them from the inside. Electrolysis etc.

Not saying this is what happened, but a long time ago when I first got that mrod I saw a guy in the uk (I think) that filled his pcp with oxygen and it let loose burning the wood, metal and flesh like a torch.
 
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wimpanzee said:
Please share the pics/videos/manufacturer and model. Anything else is just scaremongering. Dump the facts on us bro.

I am highly suspecting something was modded or filled over the designated pressure limit, and someone doesn't want to own up to being an idiot. Prove me wrong.
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I'd prefer to be proven wrong. It's ALWAYS user error tho imo.
 
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It would seem that with the number of o-rings and other plastic type parts in the air path (poppets/valves) that those would have failed and allowed the pressure to leak out prior to any violent explosion, unless there was some damage of defect of the air cylinder itself! I know a lot of what is being posted is speculation, which is why it's important for the facts to be shared. I hope OP see the urgency and will share the pictures and details on the make/model/year of the airgun involved so the rest of us can check our like airguns and take measures to ensure our safety is not in jeopardy!
 
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FLgunner said:
It would seem that with the number of o-rings and other plastic type parts in the air path (poppets/valves) that those would have failed and allowed the pressure to leak out prior to any violent explosion, unless there was some damage of defect of the air cylinder itself!
Click to expand...

I completely agree here, although I have seen people blow up those water separators when they purchase the 3000 psi one to fill to 4500 psi.
 
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Over fill would be my thoughts .... Similar to a few years ago with a fellow who was working with and modifying his and others big Bore Crosman / Benjamin PCP's to operate well above stated Working Pressure ratings.
The push back from said individual was shockingly brash that what he was doing was fine, would be fine and all the Cautious warnings by forum members were just static & he has no desire in listening too it.

Without some more disclosing information on OP's recent Crying Wolf Story .... I'm incline to not get ruffled about it as there are Always 2 sides of any story !!!
 
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Without FULL & SPECIFIC details this is just another virtual urban legend. Hard for me to believe that other equipment nearby was also affected. IF this is all true I think that not mentioning what gun & manufacturer is negligent! Facts are all important in a situation like this & I see no FACTS represented here! Why isn't your friend himself putting out the warning if he's such an experienced pcp guy? SOMETHING reeks of "unfounded rumor" here! We've seen it before. I'll take this with a grain of salt (or a POUND).
 
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I'm not scaremongering or crying wolf.

I am asking for more details - we were supposed to go to the range this week to sight in one of my PCPs, and he was going to bring this unit.

I will update more. But as I understand, it is bone stock, under 1 year old, not exceeding fill specification, and indoor at normal room temp. As to pictures or manufacturer, once posted, this information cannot be unposted. But if I am conservative, I can also post later after I double-check my info. In this day and age, where anyone can claim anything on the web and the prevailing culture can be quite acidic in crucifying the manufacturer, I would rather be cautious. The photos, to me, are stunning. But if I post the photos, the manufacturer would immediately be identified, hence my caution at this point.

He's already written the manufacturer twice and a major USA dealer once. My own opinion is that they should give him a refund AND a new gun for his troubles, but this is subjective on my part.
 
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