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Kris

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Joined: 06 Apr 2023
Location: Nelson
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Topic: PCP Questions
Posted: 3 hours 10 minutes ago at 7:50pm

Hey all,
I'm thinking of getting a PCP pistol, can anyone please give me a PCP for dummies explanation of why the need to adjust the hammer travel length,
Also what do most people use to charge up their guns

KrisNZ

kruzaroad

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Posted: 2 hours 6 minutes ago at 8:54pm

Here's a animation of how a pcp rifle works. The auto dubbing is very robotic but the animation should give you a good idea of how the hammer works.
https://youtu.be/n8qrTADvK1A?si=dbWsTk4fsR-ymvvI
Im not a pcp shooter but from my understanding the harder the hammer hits the more time the valve is open to let the compressed air through to the barrel.. You can adjust the length/power of the hammer strike to adjust how much air gets through by how long the valve is open.
By being able to do this you can adjust the amount of power/air is pushing the pellet, allowing you to tune for best accuracy, speed/power of pellet.
Adjust it if you use a heavier or lighter pellet etc.
Someone more onto it can give you a better explanation but i believe thats the basic jist of it.

RangerPete View Drop Down

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Posted: 1 minute ago at 10:04pm

Hi Kris,

It is usually only the top end PCP’s that have adjustable hammer spring tension, or that you can tinker with the hammer weighs or transfer ports etc.
Most of the older PCP’s were not adjustable, the hammer weights and hammer spring tension etc were set from the factory, and usually shot very well just as they were, no adjusting necessary.

It’s only in recent years that manufacturers started adding all the adjustable “tuneable” features to guns, but honestly, the majority of air guns from decent manufacturers dont need to be fiddled with.

As far as refilling the gun, there are 3 options, and pros and cons to each.

1- manually pumping it up to 200, 230, 250 or 300 bar (depending on the make and model of gun)
I dont think there are any pros to manually pumping 🙈 other then its cheap. I wouldnt recommend it unless you were young, fit and stupid.
2- scuba tank. Get it filled from a dive shop, $5 or $10 for a top up, will last you months.
Pros- second hand dive tanks are not expensive. Portable. Cons- no good if you don’t have a local dive shop. Most scuba tanks are rated to 230bar, 300bar tanks are a bit more expensive. Most dive shops will only fill a tank to 220bar. Very few dive shops will pump to 300 bar. Having said that, very few guns can take 300bar, only newest/expensive models.
3- by your own compressor. Pros - some can pump up to 300bar. Cons- expensive and need maintence and services/filters etc. I think only the best/most expensive ones can dry the air so you don’t get moisture into your guns cylinder 🤔. Can only fill the gun if u have electricity.

Other guys will tell you their pros and cons to each system 👍🏻

Walk quietly, but carry a big stick.

Author	Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic
Kris Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 06 Apr 2023 Location: Nelson Status: Offline Posts: 45	Post Options Post Reply Quote Kris Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: PCP Questions Posted: 3 hours 10 minutes ago at 7:50pm
	Hey all, I'm thinking of getting a PCP pistol, can anyone please give me a PCP for dummies explanation of why the need to adjust the hammer travel length, Also what do most people use to charge up their guns KrisNZ

kruzaroad Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 03 Jul 2022 Location: Hastings 4 now Status: Offline Posts: 2796	Post Options Post Reply Quote kruzaroad Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 2 hours 6 minutes ago at 8:54pm
	Here's a animation of how a pcp rifle works. The auto dubbing is very robotic but the animation should give you a good idea of how the hammer works. https://youtu.be/n8qrTADvK1A?si=dbWsTk4fsR-ymvvI Im not a pcp shooter but from my understanding the harder the hammer hits the more time the valve is open to let the compressed air through to the barrel.. You can adjust the length/power of the hammer strike to adjust how much air gets through by how long the valve is open. By being able to do this you can adjust the amount of power/air is pushing the pellet, allowing you to tune for best accuracy, speed/power of pellet. Adjust it if you use a heavier or lighter pellet etc. Someone more onto it can give you a better explanation but i believe thats the basic jist of it.

RangerPete Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 19 Apr 2023 Location: Cambridge. Status: Online Posts: 1050	Post Options Post Reply Quote RangerPete Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 1 minute ago at 10:04pm
	Hi Kris, It is usually only the top end PCP’s that have adjustable hammer spring tension, or that you can tinker with the hammer weighs or transfer ports etc. Most of the older PCP’s were not adjustable, the hammer weights and hammer spring tension etc were set from the factory, and usually shot very well just as they were, no adjusting necessary. It’s only in recent years that manufacturers started adding all the adjustable “tuneable” features to guns, but honestly, the majority of air guns from decent manufacturers dont need to be fiddled with. As far as refilling the gun, there are 3 options, and pros and cons to each. 1- manually pumping it up to 200, 230, 250 or 300 bar (depending on the make and model of gun) I dont think there are any pros to manually pumping 🙈 other then its cheap. I wouldnt recommend it unless you were young, fit and stupid. 2- scuba tank. Get it filled from a dive shop, $5 or $10 for a top up, will last you months. Pros- second hand dive tanks are not expensive. Portable. Cons- no good if you don’t have a local dive shop. Most scuba tanks are rated to 230bar, 300bar tanks are a bit more expensive. Most dive shops will only fill a tank to 220bar. Very few dive shops will pump to 300 bar. Having said that, very few guns can take 300bar, only newest/expensive models. 3- by your own compressor. Pros - some can pump up to 300bar. Cons- expensive and need maintence and services/filters etc. I think only the best/most expensive ones can dry the air so you don’t get moisture into your guns cylinder 🤔. Can only fill the gun if u have electricity. Other guys will tell you their pros and cons to each system 👍🏻
	Walk quietly, but carry a big stick.