maximum fill vs short fill

[keithd]

When I started with pcp I had an unregulated rifle always filled to 180 bar and would fill at 140 seemed to keep shots consistent. When I purchased my first regulated gun Edgun Leshiy I noticed the shot count given by Edgun was a listed shot count of (X) 220 -120. So I assumed that the recommended regular operating pressure was just that. Now I am doing the same with my R5M although the gun is rated to 300 bar I normally only run between 220-120 and have shot count of 40+. My question is am I missing out on something? by doing this. I know it is easier on my tanks as I use nitrogen 6000 psi to two smaller tanks cascade sort of.

 

[Vetmx]

You’re missing out on some extra shots but your gun will probably thank you in the long run. And so will the next owner. I generally only max fill my guns when I will be out with them all day with no air supply.

 

[nervoustrig]

Agreed, if you don’t need the long shot count between refills, no need to fill all the way to its max. Some regulators become inconsistent at high pressure so in some cases you may get a better ES by doing so, but I’m not as convinced it makes a meaningful difference in terms of wear and tear.

 

[8thman]

To my understanding that it’s less stress on the regulator and probably the other equipment that’s used to achieve the higher bar fill. But that’s just what I have gathered listening to other manufacturers.

 

[Dairyboy]

Nothing your missing out on. I do the same. Recently tuned my EVOL .22 to 30fpe and on a 4000psi fill which is it's max fill I can get 110 shots. I now only fill to 3000psi.

 

[keithd]

Thanks guys that is what I thought

 

[Smok3y]

I don’t fill to max. On each rifle I’ve owned, if I fill to max, the first shots are significantly faster than the shots after 10-20 bar is burned off. My spreads are always much tighter too because of not filling that high.

 

[Long_Gun_Dallas]

Volume actually scales down the higher the pressure goes. So, you aren't missing a whole lot. I typically only fill my regulated guns to 220 bar, and unregulated to 200 bar or less actually 

 

[MikeVV]

I also fill to 200 to 225 bar, even on my 300 bar guns.

No need in stressing the gun, especially when the first couple of shots seem to (according to many) on a "full" gun aren't accurate anyway.



Mike

 

[keithd]

Great info guys, much thanks

 

[Quad82]

I must be the under-dog here. I fill to max on all my PCPs. I might touch off a few shots to settle the reg. No worse then loosing the air in the whip after filling. As for treating the gun careful and to try to not stress anything, if this were the case, then why bother with hop-up mods? A race car was meant to be raced. If it breaks, and it will, you fix it. But that is my fun part of this hobby. I hunt with my rifles. And for day long hunts too. So a full fill benefits me. I will admit, if I am shooting off the bench, I may not be too worried about full fils.

 

[nervoustrig]

You’re not alone. I fill all my regulated guns to the max and they function properly starting from the first shot. 

The one exception is a SPA PP700S-A whose OEM regulator is notoriously problematic. I managed to address the creeping but it becomes nonlinear above about 150bar fill pressure. Granted I reconfigured the Belleville stack to get a low-ish setpoint of just 50 bar so it still has a generous working range of 100 bar.