Hand Pumping Question

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Not sure what numbers you seek. Pumping to 2000 psi takes a lot, pumping to 3000 psi takes a hell of a lot. IMO, if there is a source of scuba tank air within a 30 minute drive, considering a hand pump should be for occasional top offs only. I have a tank that can be filled to around 3700, so my rifles that will take 230 or 250 bar require some hand pumping soon after filling my scuba tank. As a result, I don't often fully charge those rifles. I'd rather accept the lower shot count than fuss with hand pumping. I'd rather expend that energy on the tennis court or walking the puppy. But, if pumping is your thing, this is an opportunity. 
 
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I pumped for years and still do when just around the house plinking. When I go out I take a tank. Pumping

sucks but its not that bad. You might want to consider your size and weight. I know many will say its all

about technique used. Im not going to agree with them. Just be a beast and pump that thing. Seriously. Like

a bike tire. Its just harder. If you use that method shown around the net it will surely take you forever to

pump. Also get a good pump and stay away from that Benjamin pump. I wasted one of the o-rings more

then once... twice... three times... Well you get the point And they went out fast. Get a Hill or something. I

actually use an FX 4 stage pump. I used the hell out of it and its still working. Honestly its the only thing that

FX makes I own. I dont trust their airgun track record one bit. The pump is totally worth it. Anyway pumping

will hold you over until you get a tank if your just jumping into the PcP airgun world. I cannot assure your

question on about how many pumps it takes because I never counted. Thought about it, but just did not

care to know. Also I would like to add... Get the Marauder. Its a great first timer. There is also a huge

following of people who like to mod it and upgrade it. There is a very large selection of upgrades and tons of

resources about modding and DIY mods. Stock parts are also easy to come by.
 
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Thanks fir the info. I would like a CF tank but have two issues with them.

1: Too expensive

2: Can not find any place around here willing to fill one. The closest scuba shop will not fill anything unless you are a certified diver and will only fill scuba tanks.



So I am stuck going with a hand pump. As for the Marauder I would like to get one but it also out of my price range. My main goal is to get something that will be a great target gun and maybe the ocaisional small game. 
 
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Different hand pumps pump slightly different amounts. Using an FX ( blue ) pump on a 480cc rig = 500 strokes from empty.

You only fill from 0 psi once,d ont worry about that one. On a refill it takes a few strokes to pressurize the hose then figure anywhere from 2-4 pumps per shot, nothing to it.

Hand pumping is easy, it's all technique . Straight back, push down with arms until elbows locked then DROP your weight on it & repeat.

Skip the big $ name brands ( I have owned them ) and grab a taousa ( sp ) or such for under $50.00, actually a better unit then some costing more.



John


 
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I have a Benjamin Maximus , so I'm assuming pumping is the same as a Discovery. I have an Estink high pressure pcp hand pump bought on Amazon for $54 free shipping . It works great. 

In the Maximus from 0-2000 psi takes about 150 pumps.

1000-2000 psi takes about 40 pumps.

I usually shoot down to 1200 psi , then it only takes about 25-30 pumps. It seems to use 50psi per shot in .22 caliber.

To hand pump up a 2000psi max gun is very easy. Especially if you refill at 1000-1200 psi. A child can do it.
 
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For my Marauder, it works out to about 3 pumps per shot. That seems consistent across multiple models, at least from what I've seen. That's for a .22. The pressure starts at about 2800 PSI and drops to 1800 or so PSI. If you intend to hand pump, consider a Maximus or Discovery as they only need 2000 PSI. That last few pumps between 2400 and 2800 are a real bear, requiring lots of work.

good luck
 
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Have a look at the Gamo Urban for a starter PCP. They are attractively priced, accurate and quality built for the money. Add a 4-12 40mm scope with parallax adustment and mounts for maybe another $100. I have really enjoyed mine. They are good and quiet.

I spent more money on my first pump, a Hill. It takes around 200-250 pumps to pump up from zero with the Urban but most new PCPs seem to ship at at least a partial charge to keep the seals tight. So you likely wont have to pump from zero. Figure on forty shots if you pump to the full operating psi of 3300 (230 Bar). I usually just go to 2800 psi (200 Bar). I shoot down to about 1500 PSI before pumping and it will take about 120 pumps to get all the way back to 3300. It simply is not that hard to pump. I treat it the same way I do reloading for my powder burning guns. Don't be put off with comments on how using a hand pump sucks.

DO heed pump mfr. instructions about letting the pump, and yourself rest after every fifty stokes. Give it a few minutes to cool off and it will help keep the pump seals from over heating.

Best of luck with your decision and purchase!




 
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Is there a reason why nobody has mentioned the inexpensive compressors out there? I know some people have had their issues with various models and flavors at various times, but I've run a Yong Heng for countless fills on a couple different air guns (never a big scuba tank though) and it has always run reliably for me. One of them will set you back as much as one of the oldschool hand pumps like a Hill or as much as a cheap scuba or carbon tank. It'll also fill your airgun in seconds/minutes rather than hours like a Shoebox or hand pump. 

Food for thought. 
 
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FX Turbo 4 Stage Pump vs Hill Mk4 ?

Since there is no compressor near me and the purchase of one (and possibly a bottle) is too expensive and difficult for Bulgaria, I have stopped on the FX pump.

However, would I be pleased if someone shared experience with these two pumps and direct impressions?

That's what I'm going to use, I'm fully aware that it's going to be quite unpleasant for the volume that will fill - 280 cc (but possibly 480 cc ...) at 250 bar but that's the situation ...

Thanks in advance!
 
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Hand pumping will save you more than just buying a tank. You wont want any more PCPs that cost more than your list due to pumping even more. When you have unlimited air you are more apt to buy more guns and shoot more too. I had lots of toy cash before the tanks and compressor showed up. Now it's a new gun every few months no matter the air capacity or shot count. Pumping sucks.
 
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Before acquiring my Huben K1 , All my PCPs are of very low power . Two are ten-meter target shooters. Hand pump was a perfect solution because I got more than 100 shots per refill so I don't have to pump much. With the Huben K1, I get just 20 shots and the pressure needed is 4500 instead of 3000 psi so hand pumping is out of the question. I have now settled on a Yong Heng compressor which has been working flawlessly so far. The cost is lower than a Hill Mk4 hand pump so it's a no brainer. My only complaint about the Yong Heng is the noise but that's not a big issue because it fills up my gun in just 1.5 minute so I don't have to bear with the noise for excessively long time. For other guns that takes 3000 psi, the filling time should be within a minute.
 
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