I'm interested in a large 4500 psi tank to fill a PCP. Which brand & size would you recommend?
New? Reconditioned?
New? Reconditioned?
Which Air Tank Would You Buy?
- Thread starter BillR
- Start date
Now that's a loaded question!
Me shooting a .50 cal Texan i can get @40 shots tethered from a 9liter 300bar bottle before it drops out of 250bar regulation.
If i could get a 12liter i would.
Once you go down below .357 then 9liter is fine and below .308 you only need to charge the bottle once in a blue moon.
You got a .22 or a .177 then even a 3liter would really go a long way.
Do you plan to tug it around or just shooting stationary?
If you go for shop filling then bigger is better because you usually pay per fill not for actual amount of filled air.
Me shooting a .50 cal Texan i can get @40 shots tethered from a 9liter 300bar bottle before it drops out of 250bar regulation.
If i could get a 12liter i would.
Once you go down below .357 then 9liter is fine and below .308 you only need to charge the bottle once in a blue moon.
You got a .22 or a .177 then even a 3liter would really go a long way.
Do you plan to tug it around or just shooting stationary?
If you go for shop filling then bigger is better because you usually pay per fill not for actual amount of filled air.
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I believe if I were in the market it would be one of the advertisers here. I would hope any of them, Omega, J&B, Air Venturi sellers would stand behind their product.
New is pricey....(but then what isn't when it comes to so many hobbies?) so if you can afford to,, spend for new and have a 15 year tank. Now if you happen to locate a used tank with some years of service left on it at a fraction of the new price.... that's another option..... but it's also buyer beware - usually.
I purchased a 4500 Scott scba tank offered a some years ago from a fellow that had several to sell with 6 years left. It needed a hydro test when I got it and it's due for another before it gets filled again, goes out of service in 2023, think I gave $200 and I thought I got a good deal.
Good luck in your decision.
New is pricey....(but then what isn't when it comes to so many hobbies?) so if you can afford to,, spend for new and have a 15 year tank. Now if you happen to locate a used tank with some years of service left on it at a fraction of the new price.... that's another option..... but it's also buyer beware - usually.
I purchased a 4500 Scott scba tank offered a some years ago from a fellow that had several to sell with 6 years left. It needed a hydro test when I got it and it's due for another before it gets filled again, goes out of service in 2023, think I gave $200 and I thought I got a good deal.
Good luck in your decision.
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I only buy new tanks now and only use Joe B now (sponsor. Air Tank for sale). Gauges/ valves/ fittings just work. I don't have the tolerance for any thing I have to piece together. You can buy cheaper, especially used but that depends upon your wants. I buy with the confidence I will use them their full life if I out live them.
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This Luxfer tank has to be hydro tested every three years, compared to every five for the carbon tank, so you need to figure in the cost of two hydro tests (not just visual inspections) into its cost.
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15 years, where are you getting those tanks ? All the ones I see are 5 years, and most seem to be a couple years old before you get them. One of the air gun places AOA I think it was, says “ there is usually a few months of use on the tanks before they need hydro tested. A few months, hell it better have several years or I ain’t buying it.
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I believe the DOT regs state the SCBAs have a 15 year service life, and require a hydro test every 5 years. So, at the end of 15 years, the bottle has to be taken out of service regardless of when the last hydro test was, and if you take a bottle in to get a hydro that is over 15 years old, it cannot be recertified. Basically, they will reject it.
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I bought a new Air Venturi Carbon Fiber 98 cu/ft. No complaints. Visual inspection yearly and hydro every 5 years is priced per tank so you get more "value" the larger the tank you have. You have the option to re-certify a tank when it expires at 15 years for another 15 years, but it's not cheap to ship tanks around and the service fee was non-trivial when I look into it a while ago. Pyramyd Air, I believe, sells refurbished tanks that have been re-certified and those you cannot re-certify again. You don't want to mess with high pressure air (HPA), however all DOT certified tanks meet the same safety standards. I have had a few interactions with Joe B, none were positive, so I choose to take my business elsewhere.
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Luxfer makes good tanks but on land that hybrid tank is 33.8 lbs (empty) + 9 lbs of air when filled. The Air Venturi's 98 cuft that I have is 13.5 lbs + 8 lbs.
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I think that the heavy tanks that you guys are referring to are SCUBA bottles. They also make CF SCBA tanks. I have a 6.8 (45 minute) version and it weighs the same as my Chinese one. The quality of both appears to be equal, at least to the naked eye.
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BillR, the answer to your original post is hard for anyone to answer without knowing more. There are two relevant factors to consider before giving you advice. First is whether or not you are filling your tank or getting it filled commercially. Second is whether you shoot at one location or do you need a tank sized for portability and ease of movement.
The biggest mistake most newbies make is shopping for cheap initial cost vs. long term value. It may seem cheaper to buy a used SCBA tank from Ebay or cost less to buy a scuba tank, but in the long term these options provide less value and convenience. If you require refills from a retail shop you need to have your tank hydrotested and pay for annual visual inspection fees on top of the cost of refills. The false economy of buying a used tank for someone who doesn't own a compressor is that the cost of a used tank is typically more than a new tank setup when the cost is annualized. The true cost is the remaining useful life of the tank divided by the years it has left before it has zero value from it's 15 year DOT life span. Most used tanks cost more than new tanks when the annualized cost basis is determined.
The tank size depends on where you intend to use it and how you get your refills. It has been my experience that the best overall size, weight, and portable tank is a 6.8 liter SCBA tank. Sometimes they are referred to as a 45 minute tank. If you own your own compressor you can opt for a smaller sized tank for additional portability but it is usually a flat rate to get tanks refilled at a commercial establishment and isn't worth the extra trips to opt for a small carbon fiber tank unless you fill it yourself.
In any case, the one absolute recommendation is to avoid buying a steel or aluminum scuba tank or even the 106cf composite tank shown in this thread. Scuba tanks only fill to 3300 psi maximum and they are a PITA to lug around. Divers require tank weight for negative buoyancy, but air gunners need exactly the opposite. Carbon fiber 4500 psi SCBA tanks are the much preferred option. Pay once, cry once. Buy a new carbon fiber tank and valve set from a reputable seller on this forum. You'll be happier in the long term.
The biggest mistake most newbies make is shopping for cheap initial cost vs. long term value. It may seem cheaper to buy a used SCBA tank from Ebay or cost less to buy a scuba tank, but in the long term these options provide less value and convenience. If you require refills from a retail shop you need to have your tank hydrotested and pay for annual visual inspection fees on top of the cost of refills. The false economy of buying a used tank for someone who doesn't own a compressor is that the cost of a used tank is typically more than a new tank setup when the cost is annualized. The true cost is the remaining useful life of the tank divided by the years it has left before it has zero value from it's 15 year DOT life span. Most used tanks cost more than new tanks when the annualized cost basis is determined.
The tank size depends on where you intend to use it and how you get your refills. It has been my experience that the best overall size, weight, and portable tank is a 6.8 liter SCBA tank. Sometimes they are referred to as a 45 minute tank. If you own your own compressor you can opt for a smaller sized tank for additional portability but it is usually a flat rate to get tanks refilled at a commercial establishment and isn't worth the extra trips to opt for a small carbon fiber tank unless you fill it yourself.
In any case, the one absolute recommendation is to avoid buying a steel or aluminum scuba tank or even the 106cf composite tank shown in this thread. Scuba tanks only fill to 3300 psi maximum and they are a PITA to lug around. Divers require tank weight for negative buoyancy, but air gunners need exactly the opposite. Carbon fiber 4500 psi SCBA tanks are the much preferred option. Pay once, cry once. Buy a new carbon fiber tank and valve set from a reputable seller on this forum. You'll be happier in the long term.
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I carry a Great White to my local range on occasion. Relatively easy to do with the Armour package with carry handle. Not so easy with a SCUBA tank. As noted above, consider how it may be used and long term value to the individual.
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