Question for you HPA guys using hand pumps

[fisherdude]

The only reason I am not shooting a HPA is that there isn't a place within 70 miles of where I live to get a scuba tank filled.  Compressors are too expensive and the local fire department won't fill anyones tank's other than for other fire depts.

But I notice some guys are using hand/foot pumps.  My question is what happens to the water?  I know that when air is compressed, that the moisture, or at least much of it, is squeezed out and winds up in the compressor.  Do these hand pumps have a way of collecting the water or would I be putting water in my rifle?  And isn't water bad for a rifle?

[lastmanout]

I  have a cheapo Benjamin pump without a filter, been OK for 6 months. Hill pump has a filter, highly regarded as the best. Cost is higher than benji. Water is in-compressable and can lead to corosion, too soon to say, but no problems with mine-yet. PCP is great.

[ribbonstone]

Been inside of some guns that have been in use with only a hand pump for years... no corrosion.  Haven't been inside on of the HPA bottles to check, have been inside the regulator on the oldest one... no corrosion.

My only "trick" is simple, but it slows down filling.  Will pump about 50-55 strokes, then BLEED the line and wait for the pump to cool down.  Reconnect and add another 50-55 pumps, bleed line, wait.  Will take about 3 sessions to fill a little 13CI tank from 1K to 3K.   Good bit of waiting around and you end up pumping more becasue every time you bleed the line, the pump has to compress air in the line until the fill valve opens, but the constant venting seems to take care of water issues and the short sessions with a coool down seem to keep the pumps happy.

[jake]

i use a handpump for my PCP's, though i never looked into the tubes i have no idea whats going on there, but there is a post in another forum where the disco did have rust in the tube and valve assembley becuase the owner only used a banjemin handpump. i so reccomend the hill pump also, that has a biult in moisture trap.

[ribbonstone]

Can't say that pumps might not bee a cause, but I haven't seen it in guns that have been only used with pumps for several years.  UNless the owner takes a look inside the brand new gun, it's hard to be dead sure the pump casued the rust.. have been inside brand new guns (which may have been in dealer stock for a year, but still new) that showed rust inside.  

As for the Hill.  Have a Hill and an old FX and I'm not sold on the dry pack system.  When I need a new pump, will get a new FX  (probably their new 4-stage) rather than another Hill.

[ray1377]

I always keep my pump in the house where the temp is constant.
I bring my disco in from the garage, pump it up and take it right back outside.
I'm sure keep the pump at a constant temp keeps condensation at a minimum.
If I took it out of the warm house into the cold garage and used it, It would have water in it for sure from condensation.
Ray

[Jaymo]

I just pump mine up inside the house. I use an Axsor pump and a 50 cubic foot scuba tank.