Hill mkIV - any better pump?

The trend has been max obtainable pressure ... MK1 / Mk2 / Mk3 / MK4

As pressure maximum has increased ... so has the PSI / Volume per "Full" stroke decreased.

You do the math coming to your own conclusion.



Have a Hill MK3 and frankly when it comes to manual HP pumping ... IMO about as good as it get if weighing 180 # or more

I have mk 3 and mk4 pumps.. they are fine for use.... but don't pump fast and take a 1 min break every 25 pumps...if heat builds up..it will rot out orings and rust air tubei also run a dehumidifier right next to my pump in a small room...that way my pump is getting the driest air possible!

Hill MK3 here. It replaced a Benjamin pump that gave up the ghost. 

My Hill pump put a lot of pellets down range before I went to tanks and then a Shoebox. It's still running on it's original orings too. 

I actually used it for the first time in 6-8 months today to pump up the BSA gun that I'm reviewing, just so I could give the handpump guys an idea of how many strokes it'd take. 

After the Benjamin rusted out, I decided that a PCP handpump has to be opened up, de-gunked, and relubed (lightly!) pretty often. The more it's getting used, the more often it needs opened up. I feel like that is the main way to keep a pump properly functioning. Of course the 50 strokes and then let cool advice that's all over the forums likely helps from burning up orings too. 

I would save your money and instead put it towards a "better" tank or compressor. I am 5' 11" and weigh 195# and hand pumping with my Hill MK3 was zero fun. I found myself spending more time pumping than actually behind the scope shooting. I gave the Hill MK3 away to a forum member here.

Get the best compressor you can afford and "right size" the max duty cycle to your tank size. Consider re-investing the budget you would use for the hand pump.

I used to hand pump a gamo urban to 232 bar from 150 bar and I recall it being exactly 71 strokes of pure misery.

My intent of this post is not to knock the Hill MK3 or discourage you but rather to offer a counter point that hand pumping is practicing to be miserable

I second everything aa_limited said above. I used the Hill Mk 3 to pump my Marauders and Prod, but bought a Mk 4 to pump my EDgun Matador and Leshiy (higher pressures). Liked it so much I bought a 2nd Mk 4.

You have to put a large percentage of your bodyweight on your arms and wrists. If you can do push-ups or dips you won't have any trouble. I'm 58 and still pump by hand. I've used my brother in law's Benjamin hand pump (he's 65) and I like the Hill pumps better. Plus the ready availability of rebuild parts.

In the summertime, I go indoors to pump in drier air.

I believe Huben is coming out with one whose specs look very good.

I consider the Hill pump a pretty lousy hand-pump, and service from Hill is non existent. Also, too expensive for what it is.

I have commented on it here: https://www.airgunnation.com/topic/hand-pumps-for-pcp-pistol/#post-365357

The Huben must be great pump, but quite expensive.

If I were to ever get another hand pump, it would be another Bull pump. More air per stroke, much sturdier construction, rust free, Bull actually talks back, easy to service, easy to get parts and cheap.

It seems like the Hill is almost made to not be user serviceable (yes it can be done, but it somewhat of a pain). The Bull can be taken apart, cleaned, lubed and put together in 15 minutes.

I consider the Hill pump a pretty lousy hand-pump, and service from Hill is non existent. Also, too expensive for what it is.

I have commented on it here: https://www.airgunnation.com/topic/hand-pumps-for-pcp-pistol/#post-365357

The Huben must be great pump, but quite expensive.

If I were to ever get another hand pump, it would be another Bull pump. More air per stroke, much sturdier construction, rust free, Bull actually talks back, easy to service, easy to get parts and cheap.

It seems like the Hill is almost made to not be user serviceable (yes it can be done, but it somewhat of a pain). The Bull can be taken apart, cleaned, lubed and put together in 15 minutes.

Click to expand...

Completely disagree with your first two sentences. 

After my first dissembly the pump wouldn't make pressure. I emailed Hill with the symptoms and they responded in less than 24hrs. They knew exactly what I had done and told me how to fix it. Two of the orings are very similar in size but not exactly the same. They told me to swap them and it resolved the problem. 

There are many orings in these handpumps, but only a couple that commonly need replaced. Hill MK3 disassembly takes you straight to those most important areas in less than 5 minutes. 

As far as price....the insides of the Hill are built so much better than the insides of the other pump that I've been in that it's no comparison. I paid 3x as much for the Hill pump, but it's lasted over 5 years so far. The other one didn't last a year. That makes the Hill the better long-term value, at least than the Benjamin pump. 

No personal experience with the Bull you mention, but the Hill has the reputation as the best for good reason. 

The FDAR pump is ( was ?) much better than a Hill of FX hand pump. Easier to use faster, higher psi and all spare parts also NO leaks with hand tightened -only- fitting & a dead head included. Same for the taousa (sp) sub-$100 hand pump, easier to use never any hassle. 

Research here the low dollar pumps ( one's I've used anyway) are 100% as good as the $200+ hand pumps.

John

fdar is same as the $50 3stage chinese stainless pumps ?

I have one of the $50 and it worked well until I got a YH.

You do need to know how to use your bodyweight.

Do you have to add any special filters to the Bulls to dry the air? Or does the filter they come with take care of that? new to hand pumps and trying to figure out which way to go. thanks