hand pump questions for HPA tanks

[DougT]

I'm considering buying a high pressure hand pump to fill paintball tanks.  They are between 47 cubic inches (770 cc) and 72 cubic inches (1180 cc) in volume and 3000 psi would be the desired pressure.  Some guns will operate at about 450 psi and then need to be refilled while other guns need about 800 psi before a refill.  I'm guessing this would involve A LOT of pumping and time.

Can someone please clue me in on how many pumps or how long it takes to fill up the smaller tanks on HPA air rifles?  Any info would be helpful.  

Thanks,
Doug

[normal]

Pumping up the 200 cc bottle for my BSA SuperTen from about 700 psi to 3200 psi takes about 140 strokes and all of my 185 lb of weight.  It's a workout.  Worse, the Hill pump can't take continuous use without melting the innermost O ring.  Gotta pump 30 or so and let it cool for 10 minutes once you get going.  Do the arithmetic and you're looking at 600 strokes and several hours for one refill of your tank.  Other brands claim not to heat up, but I can't verify.

[crazy4salmon]

I agree with Norm it is a workout. I have a talon and the airforce pump. From 1000 psi to 2900 seemed like an eternity. I would estimate about 15 strokes for every 100 psi, but that is when you get above 2000 psi. The pressure can be felt in the pump as you are going. I am 6'3" and 195 pounds and that last 1000 psi takes all I can throw at it.  I shoot 20 shots then stop and fill her back up in 5 minutes or so. Santa will be bringing a scuba tank on the back of his sleigh this year, for sure.

[tat2dman]

Hope you`re not a smoker :p If there`s any of us left...I owned a pump for about a month,then bit the bullet and bought 2 88 cu. ft. tanks.........just my take...

[ribbonstone]

Think the general opinion (shared by myself) is that it's way too much pumping.   I don't mind pumping up the small volume rifles or a 13CI HPA tank...a Sumatra  (about 380CC) gets to be a pain...over 500CC is real work.  The exercise does me good but I draw the line at 400CC.

Give you an estimate.  Takes 4 sessions (about 160 strokes) to first fill a 13CI bottle to about 3,000 (usually i'll stop anywhere from 2,800 to 3,000).  About the same if I use an FX pump or a Hill. So call it 150-160 stokes per 13ci....that 72ci is about 5 1/2 times as large...so call it 22 sets of 40 pumps (about 880 pumps).  Later on, you will stop shooting at about 1000PSi.....only need to go from 1K to 3k.....should knock you down to about 70% of the effort...so call it 15 sets of 40 pumps (or about  600 strokes).


Hand pumps need a rest every 30-40 strokes if you want them to have a long life (as for the ones that don't heat up.  Think they have a misunderstanding of the laws of thermodynamics...they've got to heat up to work...either they insulate it so you can't feel the heat and/or have a more heat resistant final seal).

[goodgroup]

I fill my 13 ci tanks all the time via hand pump. I am getting used to it and actually like the workout.
The 22 ci tanks are a lot more effort and I am in pretty good shape.
I have filled my 72 ci tank as well and it is a major,major  workout. Fortunately, the tank lasts a very long time.
As a matter of fact I will give it another 100 strokes now. Thanks for reminding me. If you turn it
into your exercise routine it can be done but on that size tank I would recommend getting it filled or get a scuba tank.
Try it once... you'll see

Jay

[goodgroup]

After i posted yeasterday i decided to pump up my 72 ci tank. I think It took 300 pumps to go from 2000 PSI to 3000 psi.
I am using the FX superstorke pump. I'll double check the next time I do it.

Don't think I would want to do that every day but it is doable and cheaper than a gym membership.

Jay

[Pacoson]

I have a 80cf 3000psi scuba tank, bought it for a fill station for paintball
I am looking for a calculation of how many shots per fill on the Talon SS tank will get and how many fills per scuba tank you get? is there a calculator link around?

[spark22]

http://www.airhog.com/tank.htm

[Pacoson]

perfect
thank you

[kiwi]

Doug..Good luck, better you than me.
I tryed it once on a 300cc pcp gun
got it half full then took the scuba tank
down to get it filled.

[kiwi]

Kool