I am wondering when it comes to less likely to have leaking problems is one better than the other over the long haul? On a side note pcps have been around a while now I think all companies across the board need to up their game when it comes to this problem or atleast make the guns way easier to work on. I hated rebuilding my marauder when I had it. The only thing I liked about my airforce rifle was it never leaked on me while I had it.
Bottle vs tube is one better
- Thread starter Redbluffed
- Start date
I don't know where some people get the idea that PCPs are prone to leaks. Cuz I don't believe that is so most of the time. Although a few guns may leak, and their owners all come running to the forums, the vast majority of folks just shoot them and shoot them and.. without any problems at all. Out of the few that do complain, about the leaks, I believe most are caused by people tinkering with their guns. There are the few that are left though that do have honest problems with leaks that are not self inflicted and we are here to help them the best that we can.
Now on to your question and it is a good one. I would have to say that I think the bottle guns would be more likely to leak than the tube guns. My reasoning being that the bottles are more likely to be removed from the guns than the tubes are. Once again we cause the leaks.
But I could be wrong, with this assumption, cuz some tube guns have regulators inside and, when removed and reinstalled, it's easy to damage an o-ring on assembly and cause a leak.
So, I guess it's hard to say anything but it just depends...
I have had my Impact, for two years now, and have some where near 10,000 rounds through it. The only leak I have had was one of the gauges got loose and leaked. I had to tighten the gauge an eighth of a turn to get the leak to stop. I am running with all of the original o-rings with the exception of the one I damaged during one of my modifications and two or three more I replaced with 90 duro rings on a couple of mods I did.
Some will say eventually all of the PCP guns will leak and that is a true statement but how many years and how many shots is eventually?
Now on to your question and it is a good one. I would have to say that I think the bottle guns would be more likely to leak than the tube guns. My reasoning being that the bottles are more likely to be removed from the guns than the tubes are. Once again we cause the leaks.
But I could be wrong, with this assumption, cuz some tube guns have regulators inside and, when removed and reinstalled, it's easy to damage an o-ring on assembly and cause a leak.
So, I guess it's hard to say anything but it just depends...
I have had my Impact, for two years now, and have some where near 10,000 rounds through it. The only leak I have had was one of the gauges got loose and leaked. I had to tighten the gauge an eighth of a turn to get the leak to stop. I am running with all of the original o-rings with the exception of the one I damaged during one of my modifications and two or three more I replaced with 90 duro rings on a couple of mods I did.
Some will say eventually all of the PCP guns will leak and that is a true statement but how many years and how many shots is eventually?
Upvote 0
Upvote 0
I feel more at ease with tube cylinders when I'm hunting in the big bad PNW outdoors, but I've learned how to make protective covers for CF bottles and haven't gouged any up yet (I have severely damaged 3 480cc CF bottles before I started covering them).
Upvote 0
I prefer tube guns. They seem easier to work on to me. Can clean them out good if anything were to get in them. Like an Mrod used to work on them alot when I first got into the sport. Got some used and were dirty and wet inside. With a bottle well I'm sure there's a way to clean them out but idk. And looks wise I prefer a tube gun over a bottle.
Upvote 0
First off, yes I think PCPs are predestined to leak. At the pressure gauge, at the degassing port, at the fill port, or at the cylinder seals. And last but not least: at the valve poppet, the most dreadful of all. Live with it, enjoy the tinkering and troubleshooting, or buy a springer.
Second, bottles vs cylinders:
- I prefer the sleek lines of a cylinder gun.
- But bottle guns often have better balance especially with higher air capacity. For example my FX Royale with 400cc bottle is not front heavy, contrary to my Royale with 400cc cylinder.
- another advantage of bottles is greater flexibility in terms of regulation. You can easily install an external reg (even a 15 usd paintball reg) with an extra gauge showing the unregulated pressure. Very easy to change the set point and maintain the reg as well. Also, very easy to add a 10 usd power plenum enabling high power with a low reg set point. By contrast, an inline/internal reg on a cylinder gun is much more expensive and harder to get to. And forget that dual pressure gauge in most cases. My Kral Jumbo bottle gun with the cheapo paintball reg is hard to beat: long-range accuracy, power, shot count, a smooth low-noise shot cycle, and dual gauges.
Now I can't wait to start tuning the Kral Empire X that just arrived on my doorstep. This bullpup already ticks most boxes for me. The photo makes it appear much heavier than the light and well balanced gun it really is. Compact size, 600cc air capacity, and well made biathlon side cocking are already showing great promise. It has an unusual bottle-cylinder combo. Cheapo paintball reg already lying in wait ... and even an inline/internal reg would work in this gun.
Second, bottles vs cylinders:
- I prefer the sleek lines of a cylinder gun.
- But bottle guns often have better balance especially with higher air capacity. For example my FX Royale with 400cc bottle is not front heavy, contrary to my Royale with 400cc cylinder.
- another advantage of bottles is greater flexibility in terms of regulation. You can easily install an external reg (even a 15 usd paintball reg) with an extra gauge showing the unregulated pressure. Very easy to change the set point and maintain the reg as well. Also, very easy to add a 10 usd power plenum enabling high power with a low reg set point. By contrast, an inline/internal reg on a cylinder gun is much more expensive and harder to get to. And forget that dual pressure gauge in most cases. My Kral Jumbo bottle gun with the cheapo paintball reg is hard to beat: long-range accuracy, power, shot count, a smooth low-noise shot cycle, and dual gauges.
Now I can't wait to start tuning the Kral Empire X that just arrived on my doorstep. This bullpup already ticks most boxes for me. The photo makes it appear much heavier than the light and well balanced gun it really is. Compact size, 600cc air capacity, and well made biathlon side cocking are already showing great promise. It has an unusual bottle-cylinder combo. Cheapo paintball reg already lying in wait ... and even an inline/internal reg would work in this gun.
Upvote 0
The tube guns (Cricket, Vulcan, Taipan, EDGun) are much simpler to work on and repair that most bottle guns. With tube guns everything is contained in the tube, valve house, valve, plenum, regulator are all in line and easily accessible.
Upvote 0
I have had an fx impact since the first ones came out and have never had leak until this year. I'm really excited about the maverick I think it will be a lot easier to work on and less prone to leaks.
Upvote 0
The easier they are to tinker the more they leak haha A bottle just unscrews, a tube may require a bit more work depending on the design. Both have positive and negatives and mostly due with shot count and ergonomics, weight etc,
Upvote 0
At the end of the day cc displacement is the same regardless of bottle or tube. Different styles look better on different platforms. The bottle looks better on an AR styled airgun. Bottles are okay for a rifle. For a bullpup I think a tube is the better option.
Upvote 0
Had my Royale 500 for almost 4 years & my Boss for a little over 2. ROCK SOLID, no problems, definitely no leaks. NEVER had either one of them dismantled or tinkered with. I like the high shot count from the bottles. The aesthetics don't matter to me as function & accuracy is everything. I'm out hunting around 3 times a week & they do EVERYTHING I need them to, including NOT LOSING AIR!
Upvote 0
With my bottle gun I can go out for multiple pesting sessions on a fill. My tube gun gets less shots per fill, but can be filled by a hand pump. My next PCP will probably be a tube gun.
Upvote 0
Far and away own more BOTTLE guns than Tube types.
Less forward weight results in better balance and easier offhand shooting.
Increased shot count due to generally having more volume than a tube on the same platform.
NEGATIVE for some actions is there becomes no way to regulate a bottle gun especially on some monoblock receiver designs. In-line regs are starting to become available tho due to length they move a bottle forward & kinda defeats the idea of weight and balance.
Less forward weight results in better balance and easier offhand shooting.
Increased shot count due to generally having more volume than a tube on the same platform.
NEGATIVE for some actions is there becomes no way to regulate a bottle gun especially on some monoblock receiver designs. In-line regs are starting to become available tho due to length they move a bottle forward & kinda defeats the idea of weight and balance.
Upvote 0
Bottles for me.
Higher shot count and I can’t take spare bottles with me for extended hunting trips.
Bb
Higher shot count and I can’t take spare bottles with me for extended hunting trips.
Bb
Upvote 0
I certinely can't speak from experience I've never had a leak on my BullBoss. However, I've had my share of hpa bottles during my paintball days. I've never had any issues with leakage from point of contact with the gun. And in paintball we took the bottles on and off a zillion times.
Maybe the point of contact for the bottle and pcp air rifle is slightly different but I would assume if the threads are good and the seal is tight then they should be just as realiable without leakage.
Maybe the point of contact for the bottle and pcp air rifle is slightly different but I would assume if the threads are good and the seal is tight then they should be just as realiable without leakage.
Upvote 0