PCP Airguns represent the top of the food chain for power, range, and accuracy. It only makes sense that folks have a lot of questions about how these airguns work, their performance, their benefits, and their limitations. In this series, we’ll look at some common questions and do our best to give you all some straight answers. Let’s get started.
What calibers are available?
PCP airguns don’t have the same energy output limitations found with other airgun power systems. Where CO2, Pump-Pneumatic, and Spring Airguns top out at twenty to thirty foot-pounds of energy, PCPs can rival the energy output of rimfire and small caliber firearms.
Because PCPs can deliver so much energy, they are available in the widest range of calibers. You will find PCP airguns chambered for: .177, .22, .25, .30, .35, .40, .45, .50, and even some boutique airguns shoot 20ga slugs.
What do you need to fill them?
The term “PCP” stands for “Pre-Charged Pneumatic. ” Essentially, PCP airguns have onboard air storage capable of delivering multiple shots per recharge. The optimal operating pressure for a PCP will vary depending on the model. Typical pressures start at 2000 PSI and can go up to 5000 PSI.
There are various types of equipment available to fill a PCP. The most affordable is a simple hand pump. An HPA hand pump is usually a three or four-stage system where each stage builds upon the previous stage. A typical hand pump like the Air Venturi MK V can produce up to 4500 PSI. Hand pumps require an increasing amount of force to reach these extreme pressures. It can be easy to reach 2500 to 3000 PSI, but as you pump beyond, you need mass over strength. Ideally, you will want to weigh around 200 pounds and have a lot of stamina.
A more practical means of filling your PCP airgun would be to buy a personal compressor. Options range from around $500 and go into the thousands depending on volume and run time. Most of the smaller units are ideal for filling guns and can take about five to ten minutes, depending on the size of the airgun’s air cylinder. More expensive compressors, like the Air Venturi Krypton 4500, can not only direct fill PCP airguns but also carbon fiber tanks, which brings us to the next option.
Some shooters opt to work with a local SCUBA or paintball shop to fill a carbon fiber tank. Carbon fiber tanks, like those seen on firefighters, can hold up to 4500 PSI, are very lightweight and portable, and deliver a lot of volume to top off your airgun between shooting sessions. For example, the Benjamin Marauder operates from a max of 3000 PSI. The volume from a 98 Cubic Foot carbon fiber tank can top off the Marauder from 1500 back up to 3000 about fifty or more times. That’s a lot of shooting!
On a side note, tanks have become less popular with the advent of affordable personal compressors. Also, with more airguns operating at higher base pressures like 4300 PSI, tanks are not very effective or efficient. You will only ever equalize pressure between two vessels. So, a “big” tank with 4000 PSI will only ever fill a small bottle to just under 4000 PSI as the volume moves from the higher-pressure vessel to the lower-pressure vessel until they are at equal pressure.
How do you maintain proper pressure?
Keeping your PCP’s pressure in the operational window is easy. Almost all modern PCPs have built-in pressure gauges. Your airgun’s manual should provide the correct operational limits. Make sure you fill your gun to the suggested starting pressure and then monitor it as you shoot. When you get to the lowest safe operating pressure, stop shooting and top off your airgun.
What happens when the pressure gets too low?
You never want to let your PCP’s pressure fall too low, and ideally, you never want to dump the valve. When you drop below the recommended operating pressure, you will not get optimal shot performance. Your accuracy and consistency will also suffer. Additionally, if you shoot out all the air, it takes a lot longer to fill the air cylinder back to optimal pressure. Some airguns can even be damaged if shot when empty. Make sure to watch your pressure gauge and keep your airgun’s pressure in the green.
Have More Questions?
If you have more questions, please let us know so that we can build out our FAQ and answer your PCP Airgun Questions. If you need some data sooner than later, just give us a call. We are always happy to help.
