What to do? Regulator/Pressure Gauge and Bottle Conversion?

[wlfpck]

I currently have 2 Benjamin Discovery air rifles that I'm kind of lost on what to do with them especially given the new stuff that is out there. I've posted this on another forum and figured I'd post here and gather some other thoughts before making a final decision.

1 is brand new. The other has maybe 100 - 200 pellets through it. When I bought these I thought I would shoot them a lot... then things got busy with work and stuff.

Anyways... since I have these 2 air rifles, I was thinking about putting a regulator one of them and doing a bottle conversion with the other (using a ninja bottle regulated to idk? 1600 psi?)? Maybe?

Now given the design of the Benjamin Discovery, the existing gauge will now show the regulator pressure. Is there a replacement fill port that has a gauge on it (show air cylinder pressure)? I remember seeing one but I can't seem to find it now. I think it was a stainless steel replacement fill port (threaded) that was kind of like a T where the gauge was off to the side and the fill nipple pointed forward. I think it was maybe on Magnum Airpower... but can't seem to find it now.

Also, for the second Benjamin Discovery, I was thinking of putting in a regulator and converting it to a bottle gun where I can swap bottles as needed. Is there any shop that I can send it to to get this work done? Goal would be to run a regulated bottle at 1500-1900 psi output and use this for heavy 22 pellets.

Asking all this because I'm not really sure what to do with these 2 Benjamin Discoveries. Don't really think there's a market for used Benjamin Discoveries. :|

So to summarize:

1. How much are these discoveries worth if I were to sell them?

2. Is it worth keeping them and doing a bottle conversion?

3. Worth installing a regulator and keeping it with the OEM/stock air cylinder?

 

[Odoyle]

They are not worth trying to do what you want to do with these Maximus Discovery type guns.

No point in regulating them because a Fortitude IF you get a good one that DOESN'T LEAK is regulated and cheaper and multishot with 25% AGNATION discount at Crosman.com plus 5 year warranty.

Last like new used Maximus Hunter I paid $100 last week from the classifieds and included a TKO tossed in and extra parts and a complete reseal kit.

They were $135 on sale at MidwayUSA recently. The Discovery may need reseal if couple years old unused. I had a brand new Disco in its box leak out all after sitting 2 years unfired thats exactly why I needed the reseal kit and motivated me to buy ANOTHER Maximus.

PM if you wamna sell both if yours. I'll buy both together if it's a good deal.

 

[Odoyle]

 

$232.49 for the regulated multishot Fortitude Gen2 direct from Crosman with AGNATION discount code.

You can also buy a sub $200 regulated UMAREX Guantlet bottle gun if you shop smart I believe the new ones come with a 3 year warranty or maybe Lifetime best to check.

By the time you plop all that cash into both Discoverys you could have gotten a brand new multishot repeater with warranty for less money for the parts you end up buying minus your labor time. 

That's $125 HUMA regulator right there.

That's around the same price you pay for a regulated Ninja bottle and drop block.

Still a single shot entry level gun you never recover your investment once you decide to sell them..

If you get $100 each for your Discos which is a realistic price I seen sellers stuck at $125 - $150 with lotsa extras included and no takers for months funny they keep on relishing for the same prices hoping some rich or ignorant idiots gonna bite. OH WAIT a rich idiot wouldn't buy a Discovery not even a brand new one...

BTW the Brand New Disco I paid $120 Shipped before it leaked 2 years later. This was just over 2 years ago when prices were still up and the Discovery wasn't discontinued yet.

 

[wlfpck]

That's actually a really good analysis. Completely forgot about the Fortitude. 

I guess I'm going to go a different route then. Maybe just upgrade the valve screws and add a power adjuster and call it a day. At least that way I can kind of "adjust" the hammer spring tension and play around to get a better shot string.

Yeah... I bought these thinking I'd shoot a lot... then several, several years later.... lol.

 

[Jonah]

Odoyle is correct with what he says. However, the Discovery is a fun gun to shoot. I have better guns, but still pull the Discovery out of the safe to shoot once in a while.

 

[SteveV]

I have a different opinion than the other responders - yes, the re sale value of a Disco or Maximus has taken a hit with the arrival of sub $300.00 repeater pcp's -

BUT - if you enjoy tinkering, bottle conversions are a blast, and a learning experience.

I have recently done two bottle builds, one based on a 2250 Cothran Machine ss tube, and the other a cut down Disco tube.

If you use a Discovery tube, the gauge will read the preuuse post bottle reg, and the bottle gauge naturally reads the pressure in the bottle.

I'm running 1800 psi output, but 1600 would most likely work fine.

 

[wlfpck]

I have a different opinion than the other responders - yes, the re sale value of a Disco or Maximus has taken a hit with the arrival of sub $300.00 repeater pcp's -

BUT - if you enjoy tinkering, bottle conversions are a blast, and a learning experience.

I have recently done two bottle builds, one based on a 2250 Cothran Machine ss tube, and the other a cut down Disco tube.

If you use a Discovery tube, the gauge will read the preuuse post bottle reg, and the bottle gauge naturally reads the pressure in the bottle.

I'm running 1800 psi output, but 1600 would most likely work fine.

Yeah I'd like to do a bottle conversion on one of them and keep the other as a normal discovery. I may go back to this idea. I can disassemble the gun and such, but my issue is with being able to cut the tube and drilling it. I'll have to check out Cothran Machine works and see about that SS tube bottle conversion. I really like the stainless steel.

Do you think a paintball inline on/off valve would work in the bottle setup as well? Reason I ask is that if I grabbed an inline on/off valve, I'd be able to pop the bottle off and what not.