Coltri MCH6 compressors from Nuvair

[jlc]

I remember watching an AOA video of the Coltri, 220 model years ago, and as i recall the only thing that you want to do when filling an empty tank, is about every 6 or 7 minutes is to open the valve on the last filter to expel condensation. But on shorter top offs, normally, 3 or 4 minutes, bleeding the water off during a filling is not required.

I generally fill when its cool out, morning or evening, and fills to two scuba tanks and an scba omega tank normally don't take more than 3 or 4 minutes.

The scuba tanks an 80 and 100 steel are good for, i think 3400 psi, i normally don't fill past 3200, and the scba i don't fill over 4200, a little safer and i can always top them off again.

All of the compressors recommended here are good quality and I can only personally rec the coltri, have owned it for about 4.5 years.

But i wouldn't enjoy this sport even with a 2500 gun if i only had a 300 dollar compressor.

 

[bandg]

"But i wouldn't enjoy this sport even with a 2500 gun if i only had a 300 dollar compressor."

Many have used a "300 dollar compressor" for long periods and have been well served by them. Is more "reliability" better? Sure. Can one enjoy the hobby without such? Seems so.

 

[Scotchmo]

I remember watching an AOA video of the Coltri, 220 model years ago, and as i recall the only thing that you want to do when filling an empty tank, is about every 6 or 7 minutes is to open the valve on the last filter to expel condensation. But on shorter top offs, normally, 3 or 4 minutes, bleeding the water off during a filling is not required.
...

Most of my top offs of larger tanks take about 7 to 10 minutes, but I only drain condensate when finished.

Every 6 or 7 minutes is conservative. The manual says every 10-15 minutes:

 

[jlc]

Yes my 6 to 7 minutes is a little overkill, but i think it is a little more on the conservative side, my attempt at helping the system get rid of moisture just as my slightly under filling my tanks, not taking them up to the limit. If i had to drive 45 minutes and then paid for the fill, i'd probably want 4500 or 3442 in each tank, but that not being a concern allows me to be a little more safety conscious and support my more conservative, cautious approach.

Yes i am sure that many that are using 300 dollar compressors and have adjusted to the time it takes to fill tanks etc., and i am probably a little spoiled, although i paid for it, to reduce the time required to fill the tanks and the significantly higher build quality with all the safety that the coltri has over the other 300 dollar compressors.

I am glad that there are many air options, so that many shooters can approach or have Air Independence, never being concerned about air, is a major factor in everything from shooting all you want, tuning, introducing others to the support by allowing others to shoot your guns etc., as we all know a ready, good supply of quality air is paramount to the enjoyment of this sport.

Thanks for your comments, our particular situations shape our priorities, I have a small farm, 30 acres, and shooting in my basement, field etc. has always been available to me, never concerned about neighbors hearing this or that, concern of pellets hitting others people/property etc., having to drive to a location to shoot etc., but being in the boonies, out away from just about everything, i wouldn't be involved in this sport if i had to think about or drive an hour or more, to fill up tanks and then know that that after couple of hundred shots, i'd have to take the drive again, this wouldn't work for me.

After I sell this place, my situation will change, hopefully i will still have a big basement, i currently have 21 yard distance, but shooting outside will cause me to have to consider new factors, but having a compressor will still eliminate air issues.

So in an attempt to keep this post on topic, imho, i think a ready supply of air should be part of the buying process, and reading many posts over the years, i think that many put their air supply as an after thought and just focus their investment on the gun when we all know that without the air we can't do much, and all of the compressors listed her (3) i think, will give a life time of providing quality air and safe operation.