New CF tank purchase!

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ChuckHunter

ChuckHunter

Member
Jan 11, 2018
1,444
819
Michigan, United States
Been hand pumping for a couple years now and it works great but it definitely limits my trigger time because of all the work involved.

Now that I have high end PCPs that require higher fill pressure the pumping thing is a drag to say the least! And I worry about moisture!

Looking to get a new tank and want some input on the best set up... is Joe B's worth the extra money for all the bells and whistles? And how cumbersome is the great white tank? I'm going to be transporting it often for hunting and to the range. 30 minutes to the nearest scuba shop so the big tank would be less trips for fill ups. 

Maybe get a compressor in the spring but want a good tank now.

What you guys think?

James from Michigan, 




 
As for tanks. I've always bought used, but have bought several fill assy's from Joe. If you're sure you will be relying on the Scuba place to fill your tank I guess the 97 cu ft Great White is the way to go. I've only had experience with one paintball store and they could never fill my tank past 4000 psi and sometimes less than that? It got to the point it wasn't worth it for me to drive that far.

I contacted a local Arc3 gas distributor and leased a 6000 psi Nitrogen tank. Bought a 6000 psi fill assy from Joe Brancato and love this set up.

I lease the tank for roughly $115 to $120 a year. Costs me about $160 to fill it and lasts me close to 8 months. I shoot a lot but mostly .177 and .22.

Depending on where you live you might be able to get Nitrogen way cheaper than I can? I know lots of guys do. I can't believe some of the great prices guys get in other areas of the USA? Also the air we breathe is 80% nitrogen and it's a good dry gas for your gun. No need to worry about introducing moisture to your guns.

If you plan on getting a compressor in the future………a smaller tank would be easier on the compressor. Less chance of the compressor over heating. A Great White would be tough on a compressor. My used tanks are 44 cu ft Scott Air Pac type tanks. Something small like that or even Joe's Guppy tank would be easier on a compressor, but would offer you less for your money if you plan to use the Scuba outlet to fill your tanks?

Just food for thought man. Peace and Hand Pump grease ;-)

Jimmy



1541465985_12570619105be0e781298239.38183623_IMG_1329.JPG

 
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I purchased the Great White package from Brancato last year. He sells good quality fittings and gear (he manufactures nothing, but sources and puts stuff together for resale), but keep in mind you will pay top $ for it. He will charge you from 1-3% regardless of how you pay, so work that into the price when you are shopping. I had a friend buy an Air Hog around the same time, and he was not happy with the quality of the fittings and gauge. He ended up buying a Great White. 

Jimmy is right about the size if you plan on getting a compressor. There are also lots of used tanks with several years life and pressure testing on eBay and other sites. The Great White setup was almost $900 for the carrying strap, feet, etc. So, you could buy 4 or 5 used Scott SCBA fireman's tanks on eBay with a couple of years left for the price of his new tank. 

Just depends on what you want to do and how much money you want to spend. 

Good luck. 
 
Upvote 0
As for tanks. I've always bought used, but have bought several fill assy's from Joe. If you're sure you will be relying on the Scuba place to fill your tank I guess the 97 cu ft Great White is the way to go. I've only had experience with one paintball store and they could never fill my tank past 4000 psi and sometimes less than that? It got to the point it wasn't worth it for me to drive that far.

I contacted a local Arc3 gas distributor and leased a 6000 psi Nitrogen tank. Bought a 6000 psi fill assy from Joe Brancato and love this set up.

I lease the tank for roughly $115 to $120 a year. Costs me about $160 to fill it and lasts me close to 8 months. I shoot a lot but mostly .177 and .22.

Depending on where you live you might be able to get Nitrogen way cheaper than I can? I know lots of guys do. I can't believe some of the great prices guys get in other areas of the USA? Also the air we breathe is 80% nitrogen and it's a good dry gas for your gun. No need to worry about introducing moisture to your guns.

If you plan on getting a compressor in the future………a smaller tank would be easier on the compressor. Less chance of the compressor over heating. A Great White would be tough on a compressor. My used tanks are 44 cu ft Scott Air Pac type tanks. Something small like that or even Joe's Guppy tank would be easier on a compressor, but would offer you less for your money if you plan to use the Scuba outlet to fill your tanks?

Just food for thought man. Peace and Hand Pump grease ;-)

Jimmy



1541465985_12570619105be0e781298239.38183623_IMG_1329.JPG
Click to expand...

Hay Jimmy, 

I did check on the nitrogen set up at my local welding supply and they wont lease a tank without a business ID number. 

But said they could sell me a tank for $650 and the fills are pretty cheap! Hydro every 10 years. They only fill to 4500psi but with that much volume should last a while. The tank there selling looks to be twice the size of the one you have. I'm in Michigan and it gets freaking cold up here. The only place I have to keep that big tank is in my garage but I guess their designed to be outdoors. 

He also commented on how dry the nitrogen is and it's a bigger molecule so less likely to leak past orings....

Maybe would work and I could get a little buddy bottle for the field I suppose. 

I'm thinking dammit! 🤔

Now that I look at the pic a little closer I guess it's the same size tank....

James from Michigan, 
 
Upvote 0
I purchased the Great White package from Brancato last year. He sells good quality fittings and gear (he manufactures nothing, but sources and puts stuff together for resale), but keep in mind you will pay top $ for it. He will charge you from 1-3% regardless of how you pay, so work that into the price when you are shopping. I had a friend buy an Air Hog around the same time, and he was not happy with the quality of the fittings and gauge. He ended up buying a Great White. 

Jimmy is right about the size if you plan on getting a compressor. There are also lots of used tanks with several years life and pressure testing on eBay and other sites. The Great White setup was almost $900 for the carrying strap, feet, etc. So, you could buy 4 or 5 used Scott SCBA fireman's tanks on eBay with a couple of years left for the price of his new tank. 

Just depends on what you want to do and how much money you want to spend. 

Good luck.
Click to expand...

If I buy the air tank I want it to be new so I'm good to go for the next 15 years except for hydro tests of course. How many fill are getting from the great white? Joe talks about how efficient his set up is compared to a lot of other fill valves...

James from Michigan, 


 
Upvote 0
James

Good to hear from you buddy. I've known guys to get the nitrogen for less than half what I pay. If you can get that 4500 psi tank at a decent price go for it. Would you have to bring it to them to get it charged?

Arc3 just comes by and exchanges the tank with a fresh filled one when I'm down far enough below 3000 psi to suit me? Heck I just fill my guns straight from the nitrogen bottle when it gets that low.

I've been keeping mine outside under the carport for years? No problems. I just take my gauges off when they're scheduled for change out. My tank is around 4 feet tall and if memory serves me correct and 9 inches in diameter.

It's heavy, I wanna say close to 400 pounds? Maybe heavier? I think the sidewalls are 1/2" thick? I squashed a set of scales trying to weigh it?

Stay warm up there this winter my friend!

Jimmy from Mudhole Burgaw NC !!!! LOL
 
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You guys are lucky, If you can get cheap nitrogen its the way to go, 6000 psi tank a big plus.

In my area even tho I had a small Motorcycle shop all the big welding shops said hell no,

To dangerous for a tank in a small shop 60X50 size shop. 

Did find one with a 300 dollar deposit, 250 a month lease and a 120 dollar fill every month if I needed or not, I passed and bought me a Sheldon compressor . I got a great white and a small pony bottle, 

Mike
 
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Im sure joe b tanks are great and worth the EXTRA cost but i went with the 98cf air venturi tank and it works great and a lot cheaper. I went on amazon and spent $11 for a nice scuba tank carrier and the plastic screen that protects the tank was under $5. My opinion is get the biggest tank possible. Even the 98cf is small and pretty light and the extra fills will be appreciated. And the shipping was free.
 
Upvote 0
James

Good to hear from you buddy. I've known guys to get the nitrogen for less than half what I pay. If you can get that 4500 psi tank at a decent price go for it. Would you have to bring it to them to get it charged?

Arc3 just comes by and exchanges the tank with a fresh filled one when I'm down far enough below 3000 psi to suit me? Heck I just fill my guns straight from the nitrogen bottle when it gets that low.

I've been keeping mine outside under the carport for years? No problems. I just take my gauges off when they're scheduled for change out. My tank is around 4 feet tall and if memory serves me correct and 9 inches in diameter.

It's heavy, I wanna say close to 400 pounds? Maybe heavier? I think the sidewalls are 1/2" thick? I squashed a set of scales trying to weigh it?

Stay warm up there this winter my friend!

Jimmy from Mudhole Burgaw NC !!!! LOL
Click to expand...

Found out today because I'm buying the tank its my responsibility for hydro and transport of tank for filling nitrogen...

Think I'm just going to buy a great white from Joe B and call it good for now. Maybe reevaluate things in the spring and either get a compressor or figure out a good way for transport and storage of the nitrogen but for now think the big tank will do me fine. 

Really dry air for most of the winter so could pump in between if I feel cocky! Lol.

James from Michigan, 
 
Upvote 0
I purchased the Great White package from Brancato last year. He sells good quality fittings and gear (he manufactures nothing, but sources and puts stuff together for resale), but keep in mind you will pay top $ for it. He will charge you from 1-3% regardless of how you pay, so work that into the price when you are shopping. I had a friend buy an Air Hog around the same time, and he was not happy with the quality of the fittings and gauge. He ended up buying a Great White. 

Jimmy is right about the size if you plan on getting a compressor. There are also lots of used tanks with several years life and pressure testing on eBay and other sites. The Great White setup was almost $900 for the carrying strap, feet, etc. So, you could buy 4 or 5 used Scott SCBA fireman's tanks on eBay with a couple of years left for the price of his new tank. 

Just depends on what you want to do and how much money you want to spend. 

Good luck.
Click to expand...

If I buy the air tank I want it to be new so I'm good to go for the next 15 years except for hydro tests of course. How many fill are getting from the great white? Joe talks about how efficient his set up is compared to a lot of other fill valves...

James from Michigan, 

Click to expand...

I use my tank to fill multiple air guns to various pressures, so I really don't know how many fills I get for each gun. I get a good many when filling the various PCP's I have though. Not sure what Joe means about his valve being more efficient in the fill process?? You open the valve, you fill the gun, you close the valve. Not sure how that could be different from tank to tank. Air volume is air volume going through a microbore hose.Maybe I just don't know enough. 

I agree with @crittahitta, get the Air Venturi 98 cu.ft. Nearly $200 less than Brancato and they work just fine. He goes on and on about fittings and valves, etc., but at the end of the day, the Air Venturi or the Air Hog is going to work just as well and be just as safe as Joe's stuff. If not, don't you think we'd hear about it? That's the thing about these forums, which is great. If something goes wrong with a product, the news spreads quickly. 

Remember, Joe is just an assembler of parts. He's not making anything. Yes, part A can be better than part B from another manufacturer, but we're really talking preferences now. It all works just fine. 
 
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Yup I came to that same conclusion talking to a few different guys...

I ended up buying two 6.8 liter SCBA tanks with 8 years left on them and a fill rig for half what Joe sells a new tank for. And these will work great if decided to get a compressor in the spring! I'm learning as I go....it will be great to be free from pumping!!!! Lol.

James from Michigan, 
 
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