To jumpstart this article, let’s talk about what a regulator isn’t. An airgun regulator, in and of itself, does not “increase” the power of your airgun. It also does not “double” your shot count. An airgun regulator is a more advanced “valve system” that helps to minimize shot-to-shot variances most shooters experience with unregulated PCP airguns.
Parts of a Regulated vs Unregulated PCP’s Power Plant
A typical unregulated PCP will have an air chamber, valve input, valve stem, and valve output. The part that opens the valve is called the hammer, which is driven by a hammer spring. Increasing or decreasing the tension on the hammer spring increases or decreases the force exerted on the valve stem, which in turn changes how much air escapes through the valve output.
The valve input, valve output, hammer weight, and hammer spring tension are all constants. The air pressure in the air chamber is not constant and will change with each shot. A well-balanced valve, hammer, and hammer spring can greatly mitigate the pressure variation, but only by so much. This is why most unregulated PCPs have a shot curve where the velocity starts lower, then slowly rises to a plateau for a number of shots, and then starts to decrease again. A “good” shot curve may only be 20 to 30 FPS, whereas some poorly designed systems may see extreme spreads of over 100 FPS.
Airgunners with unregulated airguns typically find the “sweet spot” of the shot curve where the shots are most consistent. This is done by taking note of your air chamber pressure when the shots “level off” and then start to decrease again. The starting air pressure is called the “optimal” pressure. By filling the airgun, not to the max pressure but to the optimal pressure, shooters will start their shot string at the most balanced portion of the shot curve. They will get fewer shots, but the shots will be much more consistent.
Changing Dynamics
Now, let’s look at how a regulator affects the performance of your airgun. A regulator is a device that’s fitted between the air chamber and the valve, creating a “pre-chamber,” also called a “plenum.” The regulator should be set to the “optimal” pressure for the rest of the components of the airgun, which would be the valve output, hammer, and hammer spring. Essentially, we’ve established a system where every shot should be at the most efficient and best performance.
Regulators (most varieties) use a series of disks that open and close a valve based on the pressure in the air chamber and the plenum. Once the plenum is at the set pressure, the regulator closes until the plenum is dumped, i.e., shot, and needs to be refilled. On some guns like the FX Impact M4, you can actually hear the plenum refill between shots. It’s important to allow the plenum to fully recharge or you won’t see the benefits of the regulator.
Myths
As mentioned at the start of this article, a regulator does not increase the power of your airgun. It also does not double your shot count. It does, however, optimize the efficiency of your airgun by creating more stable air delivery. The air volume, air pressure, valve port, transfer port, hammer spring, and hammer weight determine your airgun’s power and shot count. The regulator simply helps all those parts work together more consistently.
Adjustable Airguns
One way manufacturers are allowing shooters to decide how they want to use their airguns, e.g., more power vs. more shots, is by providing very easy, user-accessible adjustability. The Air Venturi Avenger series is a great example. Not only can you adjust the hammer spring tension, which will increase or decrease the amount of air leaving the plenum, but you can also adjust the regulator.
By increasing the pressure in the plenum and the hammer spring tension, you effectively drive more air at a higher pressure through the transfer port and down the barrel. These changes increase the power output of each shot but also decrease the shot count, as you are now using more air pressure for each charge. Conversely, if you decrease the regulator output pressure and hammer spring tension, you will decrease your power output but increase your shot count. The choice is entirely yours!
Finding the Balance
Be sure to read our article on “How to track your airgun’s performance,” as it will really help you find the best balance for your needs. There’s a whole process to dial in the best balance between shot count, power, and, most importantly, accuracy. In order to find this balance, you’ll need a critical piece of kit called a chronograph. It measures the velocity of your projectiles so that you can easily tell what’s happening with your airgun.
That’s a Wrap
We hope you found this article informative. There’s a lot to consider regarding regulated airguns and their setup, and finding the balance. If you need help getting started or getting back to square one, just give us a call. We are always here to help.
