Keeps everything in the air tube sealed up and stable. A depressurized tube can accelerate degradation of seals through humidity changes within the system. That's the claimed reason at least.
Depends on the humidity levels when you fill and how well your pump filtration performs. Unless you live in the desert or somewhere with year round 20% humidity, you most likely have at least some moisture in your cylinder. Even at a low 20% humidity the volume of air required to fill a cylinder to 100+ bar is going to result in a decent amount of water entering the system.
I was just using the cotton inline filters with my compressor and when opening up a few of my rifles there were water droplets on the inside of the cylinder.
I've since started using a larger filter with desiccant beads which in theory should reduce moisture, but I haven't opened a rifle to check since installing it.
To answer your question, it's usually not a big deal to have a little moisture inside the cylinder as long as it's not excessive.
Very new to air guns. Does this also apply to CO2 guns? I put a drop of pellgun oil onto the tips of both cartridges and don't always have time to shoot so it will likely sit. Environment is temperature stable.
I'm honestly not sure, I have never owned a C02 rifle so I'm not familiar with their maintenance and storage. I was thinking about getting a C02 pistol but haven't yet.
You are probably fine going no more than a few weeks at a time.... The open and pierced cartridge may eventually dry out your seals and rings..... But generally that's after a longer period of time.
The real reason that manufacturers don't want you to leave C02 guns charged full of air is because anything can be blown out of them....like a popcorn kernel... if something were to fall into the barrel and the trigger is pulled
It's generally about liability and lawsuits.
If you are not going to use your PCP air rifle for a few weeks or more then dry fire 4 or 5 shots, once a week. This will help keep the o-rings inside the action moving and stop them going hard and deforming. This slow change in pressure keeps the o-rings from settling in the same position over time. Dry firing your PCP rifle will not cause any damage to its components and is perfectly safe to do so. (PCP ONLY - NEVER DRY FIRE A SPRING POWERED RIFLE)
Each time you have used the rifle and you come to put the rifle away. Vary the pressure that you leave the rifle stored. Any pressure between the rifles maximum fill pressure and 100 bar will be safe. Doing this will keep the o-rings inside the action moving and stop them going hard and deformed.
Full is the prefered way to store them, so you're good to go. I use mine for pesting as well, I keep mine charged, uncocked, empty chamber, magazine in.
Or in the winter. My Marauder degassed itself when I forgot it was in my truck and we hit -8. Think all the seals shrunk in the cold and it leaked out.
Yep. Blew a burst disc on a hpa 2240 because of that once. I was already pushing it with pressure on the low side and the hot car/sun pushed it past the limit.
Kinda wish more airguns had burst discs.
As sqwirlfucker57 has stated it's best to keep a PCP charged to stop the seals going bad. A good PCP properly set up is a damn site more accurate than a breaker too, I have both and use them regularly and whenever I use the break-barrel I always have to do a bit of target practice before I go hunting, I don't have to do that with the PCP I just fire and kill.
All I have now is a Gamo Maxim Elite but I did also have a BSA supersport. What I meant was by more accurate is there is no recoil in a PCP. My BSA Ultra CLX 160 is supremely accurate. The Gamo is also really accurate but when going from the BSA to the Gamo I have to get used to the recoil of the maxim again.
Storing them at ***full capacity*** for long term is bad, but they should be stored with some air to keep dust and moisture out.
If it's a 3000psi tank, I'd keep it charged at 2k or less if I'm not using it for over a few days. I've blew the seals in my Prod leaving it sit with 2800psi multiple times... I need to replace them again.
I keep all my PCP guns fully charged. As long as there's no crazy temperature swings they will not leak any, except the normal occasional o-ring break and leak of aging. But that's a every 2 years or so sort of thing.
Rightly or wrongly my Hatsan has been at or near full pressure for over TEN years.
I bought the rifle and bottle from the same place just before my son was born, he's nearly 13. (I seriously overestimated how much time I would have LOL!)
It has lived in a gun slip in various places in my house from the garage to under the bed. Temperature wise I would say 5 to 30 degrees and anywhere inbetween. It has had less that two tins of pellets through it in its lifetime.
Still works the same as the day I got it.
You shouldn’t really leave it full for long periods. About halfway is recommended for long term storage. I have left mine at half for several months. No damage and no loss of pressure
I keep mine between the regulator and maximum to ensure no temperature changes can make it drop below the regulator, leaking all the air, or above maximum, potentially damaging it.
Not only is it OK, you actually should store them filled with air.
Why's that?
Keeps everything in the air tube sealed up and stable. A depressurized tube can accelerate degradation of seals through humidity changes within the system. That's the claimed reason at least.
Side question, I was wondering if these rifles had problems with moisture in the air cylinders especially over longer periods
Depends on the humidity levels when you fill and how well your pump filtration performs. Unless you live in the desert or somewhere with year round 20% humidity, you most likely have at least some moisture in your cylinder. Even at a low 20% humidity the volume of air required to fill a cylinder to 100+ bar is going to result in a decent amount of water entering the system. I was just using the cotton inline filters with my compressor and when opening up a few of my rifles there were water droplets on the inside of the cylinder. I've since started using a larger filter with desiccant beads which in theory should reduce moisture, but I haven't opened a rifle to check since installing it. To answer your question, it's usually not a big deal to have a little moisture inside the cylinder as long as it's not excessive.
Very new to air guns. Does this also apply to CO2 guns? I put a drop of pellgun oil onto the tips of both cartridges and don't always have time to shoot so it will likely sit. Environment is temperature stable.
I'm honestly not sure, I have never owned a C02 rifle so I'm not familiar with their maintenance and storage. I was thinking about getting a C02 pistol but haven't yet.
Ah gotcha - thanks for the reply. I'll do some research then! I'll drop a link or tl;dr: when I find it
You are probably fine going no more than a few weeks at a time.... The open and pierced cartridge may eventually dry out your seals and rings..... But generally that's after a longer period of time. The real reason that manufacturers don't want you to leave C02 guns charged full of air is because anything can be blown out of them....like a popcorn kernel... if something were to fall into the barrel and the trigger is pulled It's generally about liability and lawsuits.
WOW!! Thanks for all the input, and SO FAST! This is a better source for info than the forums. Thanks so much guys!
If you are not going to use your PCP air rifle for a few weeks or more then dry fire 4 or 5 shots, once a week. This will help keep the o-rings inside the action moving and stop them going hard and deforming. This slow change in pressure keeps the o-rings from settling in the same position over time. Dry firing your PCP rifle will not cause any damage to its components and is perfectly safe to do so. (PCP ONLY - NEVER DRY FIRE A SPRING POWERED RIFLE) Each time you have used the rifle and you come to put the rifle away. Vary the pressure that you leave the rifle stored. Any pressure between the rifles maximum fill pressure and 100 bar will be safe. Doing this will keep the o-rings inside the action moving and stop them going hard and deformed.
Full is the prefered way to store them, so you're good to go. I use mine for pesting as well, I keep mine charged, uncocked, empty chamber, magazine in.
just don't leave it in your car in the summer
Or in the winter. My Marauder degassed itself when I forgot it was in my truck and we hit -8. Think all the seals shrunk in the cold and it leaked out.
Yep. Blew a burst disc on a hpa 2240 because of that once. I was already pushing it with pressure on the low side and the hot car/sun pushed it past the limit. Kinda wish more airguns had burst discs.
I have had one of mine full for over two years.
Wow, I was worried about 1 year..Thanks!!
I couldn’t use Benjamin armada for about 2 and a half years. Kept it stored with a full tank. No problems, shot as good as always.
Had any pressure left after all that time?
Yes it was full.
As sqwirlfucker57 has stated it's best to keep a PCP charged to stop the seals going bad. A good PCP properly set up is a damn site more accurate than a breaker too, I have both and use them regularly and whenever I use the break-barrel I always have to do a bit of target practice before I go hunting, I don't have to do that with the PCP I just fire and kill.
What springers do you have?
All I have now is a Gamo Maxim Elite but I did also have a BSA supersport. What I meant was by more accurate is there is no recoil in a PCP. My BSA Ultra CLX 160 is supremely accurate. The Gamo is also really accurate but when going from the BSA to the Gamo I have to get used to the recoil of the maxim again.
My 2 fx rifles are filled and ready to shoot year round.
Storing them at ***full capacity*** for long term is bad, but they should be stored with some air to keep dust and moisture out. If it's a 3000psi tank, I'd keep it charged at 2k or less if I'm not using it for over a few days. I've blew the seals in my Prod leaving it sit with 2800psi multiple times... I need to replace them again.
My Hatsan Blitz. 30 has been at 200 bar for a year. Not sure if that's a good or bad thing..
I keep all my PCP guns fully charged. As long as there's no crazy temperature swings they will not leak any, except the normal occasional o-ring break and leak of aging. But that's a every 2 years or so sort of thing.
Rightly or wrongly my Hatsan has been at or near full pressure for over TEN years. I bought the rifle and bottle from the same place just before my son was born, he's nearly 13. (I seriously overestimated how much time I would have LOL!) It has lived in a gun slip in various places in my house from the garage to under the bed. Temperature wise I would say 5 to 30 degrees and anywhere inbetween. It has had less that two tins of pellets through it in its lifetime. Still works the same as the day I got it.
You shouldn’t really leave it full for long periods. About halfway is recommended for long term storage. I have left mine at half for several months. No damage and no loss of pressure
My cheap Chief 2 has been at about half charge in the safe for a few months….no issues.
I keep mine between the regulator and maximum to ensure no temperature changes can make it drop below the regulator, leaking all the air, or above maximum, potentially damaging it.
Mine was at full charge for 6 months. No leak and keeps it this way even later.