Regulator question

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otis1016

Member
Feb 10, 2022
135
92
Alabama, United States
Afternoon everyone,

I've spent a lot of the last year or so learning more about higher end airguns and many of the smaller things that go along with them, tuning, parts, upgrades and so on. Honestly I had no idea when I first got interested that there are so many high quality guns that shoot amazingly well. At first I just wanted to get a couple of Crosmans from when I was a kid rebuilt and while that worked out well it's been a lot of fun since. I've seen several references on some videos about regulators but nothing about what that is. I'm guessing it is something that allows the shooter to maintain a given pressure level as the air tank is depleted allowing a higher number of consistent shots. The Beeman will get about 90 consistent shots using two 12mg CO2 bottles before elevation starts dropping quickly. There is no pressure gauge on this rifle and as long as I keep a shot count I expect it won't be a problem of running short. The videos I've watched reference regulators either included or available for some of the higher end PCP rifles and I wonder if one would be useful for the Beeman or if there is even something available. It's a $300 gun so I don't expect much in the way of upgrades but when I move to something more sophisticated should I at least make sure I can add one as an aftermarket item? Anything else that will be a good investment? I went through this same process some years back when I got into centerfire accuracy shooting and found many ways to spend money on items I didn't need or just outright junk. I'm sure my wife would prefer I not do that again. So what is a regulator, what does it do and when is it useful? Thanks.

Rick H.
 
As you stated a regulator regulates a higher pressure to a lower one and usually does so in a consistent manor. 

Even some of the inexpensive PCPs, such as the Gauntlet and the Benjamin Fortitude, now have regulators.

Co2 guns are not normally regulated and I am unaware of any that are.

https://www.pyramydair.com/product/benjamin-fortitude-gen-2-pcp-air-rifle-regulated?m=4569

https://www.pyramydair.com/product/umarex-gauntlet-pcp-air-rifle-synthetic-stock?m=4311

I put a regulator on a Crosman that I put together and it werqed out very well;

https://www.airgunnation.com/topic/still-another-mod-for-the-ratgun-and-once-again-the-true-cost-of-a-60-crosman/?referrer=1


 
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Rick, I've been through the CF, RF, and air rifle venues of precision accuracy. They are all addictive, and all money pits. Your next "more sophisticated" air rifle will probably be regulated from the maker. As mentioned, the regulator simply maintains a constant pressure to the main valve which, in theory, should produce the same velocity with each shot. In practice, the best ones come close, maybe producing a spread of under 10 fps through the accurate shot count. With an unregulated rifle, you can kind of be your own regulator, filling the bottle or cylinder to a pre-determined level, and refilling at the bottom of the consistent velocity production. That can be challenging to manage, so most folks opt for the easier regulator option. As anything mechanical, the regulator requires maintenance, and will eventually break or wear out. But still, most find it to be the more desirable option. You mentioned an experience with CF accuracy shooting. In that case, you perhaps have experience with exercises such as neck turning, primer pocket deburring and uniforming, and measuring bullet seating depth to properly engage the lands. Well, the regulator is in that family when it comes to air rifles. Luckily, you have fewer variables to address, so maybe you can avoid your wife's wrath......probably not. 
 
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No I probably will catch 80 hells from her if she ever figures out how far I've already gotten into this but lucky for me she doesn't keep count. I reload most of my own ammo in cf, .308 most of the time. Like Barney Fife used to say, "it's therapetic." I'm familiar with those things you've referenced which is why I am more or less smart enough to start asking questions like this. Full length re-sizing, primer pocket de-burr, neck turning, seating depth. All of those are different for each rifle and every rifle likes something a little bit different.I'm seeing the same with air rifles, one will like a different weight, style or brand over another. It's interesting trying to keep up with which is which. I also discovered that some cf ammo brands are quite good while others are crap. Same with pellets apparently. As long as I am having fun...



Rick H.
 
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