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The outdoorsman · Veteran Member

what is a PCP air rifle? simple question but it would help a lot

23ib0d0n · Moderator

Pre
Charged
Pneumatic
Wink

AirGunEric · Site Admin

PCP= "Pre-Charged Pneumatic" as in an air filled gun. Think of it like a Co² gun but it uses compressed air from a tank or 'reservoir' to feed the gun- not a little 12g 'caplet'. Being air, and using a gun designed for such means much higher pressures can typically be achieved- i.e. 3000psi to drive the pellet, vs. 8-900psi for Co² guns and maybe 1000psi for pumpers (which, obviously, also use air as the propellent- but over 1000psi you'd break the pump handle off before being able to force any more air in).

See the AirGunHome Glossary for basic explanations of things:

http://www.airgunhome.com/pages/glossary.html

Heck- look at the main site page, it has some resources and gets more and more as time goes on:

http://www.airgunhome.com

AirGunEric · Site Admin

23ib0d0n · Moderator

Jim McArthur · Veteran Member

Is there something you can buy to charge them yourself, or do you have to take them somewhere to be charged?

Jim

AirGunEric · Site Admin

There are specialized handpumps available (oftentimes called a "hill pump")- much like a bicycle pump, but they will allow much higher pressures to be generated. They take more energy to pump and don't work too fast- but they will fill a reservoir in a PCP gun in a few minutes usually. These pumps are also fairly expensive $200-300 typically.

Other options are getting a SCUBA or fireman's type breathing tank and taking it to a diving shop or fire hall to be filled (SCUBA tanks operate on a full charge at 3000-4500psi). They have a properly designed compressor that can do this sort of job- don't know the price on such a compressor, but needless to say they can't be found at Home Depot for $500. You then use the tank to fill the reservoir in the gun, or connect the tank directly to the gun via a hose with a regulator (to ensure only a specified maximum pressure goes into the gun) to operate.

If you look in J.'s first picture- that is a tank sitting on the ground he uses to feed one of his guns directly (i.e. via a hose and regulator).

broommaster2000 · Moderator

Be sure you check with a pro. Some people used pure oxygen and didn't live to tell the tale.

I reccomend PCP's only when you have money left, as they aren't very cheap.

23ib0d0n · Moderator

This picture is of a 4500psi Stewart Warner mil surp compressor charging a 550ci carbon fiber tank with 88cf of dessicant dried air. High pressure equipment does require special hoses, fittings and valves to remain safe.

http://www.scubabomb.freeservers.com/Cscuba.htm < This website descibes a lower pressure SCUBA vessel failure and is why the equipment here is very carefully inspected and maintained before, during and after use.

Like race equipment, which can also be very dangerous, high pressure equipment is only as safe as the respect level given to it.

Jim McArthur · Veteran Member

Yes. And like racing equipment: it's nothing I plan to get involved with.

Jim