The Quest for Air – Part 2

If it was a stretch to consider spending $200 on a 300 PSI aluminum tank, plus another $100 for the fill yoke, it was completely out of the question to even consider some of the 4500 PSI solutions. That was until I did the math.

Time for math class

So here was the test. I was provided an Air Venturi 4500 PSI carbon fiber fill system to compare to a 3000 PSI aluminum system. The Aluminum tank with fill kit runs about $300 all in. The Air Venturi 4500 PSI system runs about $700. That’s a HUGE difference and a major hit to the wallet.

I took my Marauder and found that 40 shots would drain about 1000 PSI, taking it from 3000 down to 2000 PSI. From there I topped it off with my aluminum tank about 4 or 5 times. Giving the tank the benefit of the doubt, that’s about 200 shots for the $10 my scuba shop charges me to fill my tank. Now I can continue to shoot until it’s just not putting out enough air to make it worthwhile anymore, which takes me out to about 500 or 600 shots total.

It’s time to look at the 4500 Carbon Fiber tank. Same $10 fill cost from my SCUBA shop. The tank holds 88 cubic feet of air vs the 80 in the aluminum tank, and at a lot higher pressure; 4500 PSI vs 3000 PSI. As I began my tests, it became extremely obvious that I was going to be here for a while and that I needed a way to count the fills as I could not keep it straight in my head. After a while, I finally topped out at 65 fills. No, that’s not a typo.. I got 65 FILLS from 2000 to 3000. That is 2600 shots for my $10!

You could continue to do the math and include travel time and fuel costs, but essentially it comes down to the point that if you shoot a lot, then the 4500 PSI Air Venturi Carbon Fiber Tanks is going to be a great option for you. There is one caveat, however. Both the aluminum tanks and the CF tanks require visual inspections and regular hydro testing. Unfortunately, the carbon fiber tanks are only “good” for 15 years. After that 15 years, you can no longer get them hydro tested.

The 88 Cubic Foot Air Venturi’s little brother…

A couple of years ago I met some guys wandering around floor at SHOT. They were with Ninja Paintball and they had come up with a regulated fill system for airguns. As leaders in the paintball industry and having provided carbon fiber tanks all around, they saw the need of airgunners to cost effectively fill their airguns from a reliable, refillable, lightweight source. They worked hard with Air Venturi to create the Air Venturi Carbon Fiber Air Tank & Fill Station. This small, 90 cubic inch solution, weighs only 5 pounds and delivers a regulated 2900 PSI output from its 4500 PSI, 90 Cubic inch carbon fiber tank.

Now here’s why I’m so excited about this option. The cost of the tank with the fill attachments is right at $300, putting it equal to a typical aluminum tank and fill kit. When you do the math, however, you’ll find that the this small bottle will deliver up to 10 fills from 1900 to 2900 PSI on your standard Benjamin Marauder. That’s 400 shots if you take it up to the full 2900 each time.  If your Marauder is like mine and shoots better from 1700 to 2700, then you’ll get a lot more.  It’s not 2600 shoots like the full size CF tanks, but it’s less than half the cost and can easily go with you in the field, something you really can’t do with the aluminum tank.

The last point that makes this option perhaps the most attractive to me is the fact that it can be filled at so many different places. Because it uses the same types of connectors that are used by paintball players, any paintball location should be able to easily fill it to the full 4500.

What are you waiting for?

Regardless of what solution you choose, getting into PCP airguns is an adventure. Fortunately it’s a lot easier today than when I first started. Whether you choose a quality hand pump, aluminum tank, full sized carbon fiber tanks, or my personal favorite, the Air Venturi Carbon Fiber Regulated Fill system, it’s pretty easy to get up and going.

If you have questions about what you need to connect your new fill solution to your new PCP, just give us a call and we’ll make sure you get any fittings and accessories you may need. Or, ask your questions right here in the comment section and we’ll be sure to help you out.

Stay plugged in to the blog as we have several new articles almost ready to go!