How you fill your airguns

[Florida_Man]

I'm curious how we fill.
Do you feel you've gone too far?
If you could start over again, what would you do?
I would like to help out new people with our experience.

 

[Florida_Man]

I started with a steel SCBA that I used to fill my Royale 400

I got away from air rifles and when I started again I bought a hand pump for a flashpup and PP700's
That got old.
Went big and bought a Great White and Yong Heng.
Now I fill the PP700's from the CF tank, and try to fill the Cricket 2 from it also. Occasionally I fill directly from the Yong Heng to the Cricket.

I think for the amount I shoot, I could have gotten away with just a small compressor and filled the rifles directly, and a hand pump backup for the PP700's.

 

[delooper]

I use a GX compressor to fill two SCBA tanks. I cycle the compressor on for 1:20, off for 5:00 (five minutes), this keeps the external temperature under 50c. It takes the compressor many hours to fill a large SCBA tank, but I don't mind the wait.

 

[scottg0814]

Several years ago I bought a large tank with my first PCP. I was getting it filled at a local paintball shop. I eventually scored a great deal on a Benjamin Recharge compressor, a 2nd large tank and a guppy tank. I ended up moving away from the paintball shop so this worked perfectly. I don't use the guppy since currently, I only shoot at home in my backyard range. However, if/when I shoot somewhere else, the guppy will come in handy. I've since added a StikMan and CascadeMan and keep the 2 tanks cascaded together. I've always filled my guns from a tank.

 

[starlingassn]

i have 2 scba tanks,
and get them filled at my local fire station.

 

[Firewalker]

Two 65 square foot CF tanks filled by a Yong Heng, takes less than 15 minutes to go from 3k to 4k, temps max at 50C.

 

[Skydivingmiami]

Alkin with a tank

 

[wolfmangreg]

Alkin with a tank.

Started with hand pump. Then a tank. Then several low-mid priced compressors. Back to the tank, this timing filling myself with the Alkin.

If I could start over:
1- Hand pump
2- As soon as finances allowed, tank to be filled by dive shop
3- As soon as finances allowed, "dive quality" compressor to fill tank myself

Would have completely skipped the low-mid priced compressors. Wasted a lot of time & some money (was fortunate to have experienced problems early enough to return a couple for full refund) on them, in return I got mass quantities of frustration (& very little compressed air).

Before the pitchforks come out- yes, it's an example of one; others' mileage may vary.

 

[Gerry52]

Yong Heng to keep my 15, 30, 45 & 60 minute tanks filled.

 

[mackeral5]

6K NI...

 

[Scotty1]

I use an Alkin and 1-60 minute, plus 2-45 minute bottles. I usually cascade fill with 2 bottles through a Stickman fill set.

 

[Roachcreek]

Altaros Booster to fill 30 and 60 minute tanks.

Roachcreek0

 

[blackdiesel]

I got a SCUBA tank before I got a PCP. I used it a couple of times then got 2 SCBA tanks and gave the SCUBA tank to a friend. I had a great paintball shop that filled the tanks. New management at the PB shop started acting funny and restricted me to once-a-week fills so I started renting a 444CF N2 tank. Found a great deal on a shoebox setup. I used it one time and got an Omega Supercharger and traded the shoebox to a shooting buddy. This worked great but I found a steal of a deal on a Shelden dive compressor and sold the Super Charger. I still have it, but after Mr. Shelden retired I was proactive and got an Alkin W31 for heavy lifting. Along the way, I also found great deals on an Omega Turbo Charger and Daystate 110-volt (Coltri MCH3) compressors, and several firemen CF tanks. So I have unlimited air to fuel my many PCPs.

 

[AlanMcD]

Did it all per my plan starting probably 12 years ago with PCP:
- Started with a Hill hand pump and lived with it for a few years - never minded pumping but knew it was the limit in my shooting
- Added a used 66 cuft tank with 5 years life left and filled it at a dive shop - filled with both the tank and hand pump as appropriate
- Bought a Shoebox to fill the tank when it expired, and put the hand pump in storage as a backup (where it still resides)
- Bought a new Guppy a few years later to also fill with the tank - its a perfect companion to the Shoebox
- Recently bought a used Shoebox to have as a backup since Shoebox is out of business (not part of original plan, but a good move)

I'd do it again, although I'd probably have to step up to a dive compressor without the Shoebox if I were starting today - I'm just not into babysitting the fill process that much, and the Shoebox is slow but is "set it and forget it" and I really like that. The other acceptable alternative to me is "fast and painless" (other than price).

 

[Harv24]

I started with a hand pump.
Then an air tank filled locally
Then my own compressor.

Would not have changed a thing.

 

[MickeyD]

I use a DC pump to directly charge the rifle. When at the range I recharge from the car, fills pretty quick, 10 minutes or so to bring me from 2800 to 4500 PSI.

In the field, I use a 36 AH LiFePo battery. I usually get 5 refills from it, but it does take longer, 15 minutes or so. Since I can get around 20 shots per fill, that's way more than enough air for my hunts.

 

[Cameron]

I use a yong heng to fill my gun. Would be nice to have a tank or a 12 volt compressor when I go shooting other places.