What is with fill probes?

[Bladebum]

What is the reason manufacturers are using proprietary fill probes instead of the standard quick disconnect? My daystate huntsman has one as well as the fx dreamline my pops just picked up and they are irritating.  The rubber o rings on mine are chewed up and leaking when trying to fill after only having the gun for a couple months. Not to mention they send them out without a quick disconnect adapter that EVERY fill source known to man uses, so then your left sourcing and ordering those jobs. Waiting on new o rings in the mail as the local hardware store didnt have the size I need, despite carrying a vast assortment of sizes. I guess I just dont understand why they had to go and make things more difficult on an otherwise awesome couple guns. 

[Motorhead]

With pressure gauges on end of air tube ... necessary if wanting clean lines.  Placing a foster fill forward of trigger guard by in large only seen on UNREGULATED guns. *You don't want the fitting sticking out in the fore grip areas.
Understanding the requirements of WHERE in the gun the air is put into it and relationship to regulators, bottles or complex stock shapes etc is very much behind when & why a probe is utilized over a foster male fill.

JMO ...
Scott S

[Ribbonstone]

OK...will go with that...probes are mostly for "style points" when used right.


Then again, a gauge at the front of the air tube pretty much invites you to look down the working end of a rifle to check pressure.


So..a quick poll:

1.How many of you actually attach the fill probe directly to the fill hose?  It's aways there on the end of the hose, always read to fill any rifle that takes that probe.

2.How many of you adapt the probe to a foster type fitting?  Fillhose (with a QD) read to fill anything with a "universal" Foster type nipple.


THINK most folks are in the #2 category....which makes the probe a "middle man"...there for style over substance.

[Nomadic Pirate]

Take probes Systems over Foster Systems anyday,.....only wish there was a standard Probe across the board for all manufacturers.

[desertplinker]

I'm with Nomad on this one. Even the same manufacturer can use different probes on different models of the same company.

[Ribbonstone]

Depends on your Sumtra ….think I can find the old fill probe system that it came with if you seriously like probe fittings better than a foster.

[AGEnthused2]

What is the reason manufacturers are using proprietary fill probes instead of the standard quick disconnect? My daystate huntsman has one as well as the fx dreamline my pops just picked up and they are irritating.  The rubber o rings on mine are chewed up and leaking when trying to fill after only having the gun for a couple months. Not to mention they send them out without a quick disconnect adapter that EVERY fill source known to man uses, so then your left sourcing and ordering those jobs. Waiting on new o rings in the mail as the local hardware store didnt have the size I need, despite carrying a vast assortment of sizes. I guess I just dont understand why they had to go and make things more difficult on an otherwise awesome couple guns.

Proprietary equals more money, airgun manufacturers are really no different than any other type of manufacturer, if you’re the type of person to have one really nice “expensive” airgun you may not mind paying an extra $50 for a part you can only get from the manufacturer.
Since this is a hobby we have to put up with it.

[Franklink]

Most definitely NOT a fan of probes.

I just leave it stuck in the gun as if it was a permanent fixture (ie a foster like it should have been to begin with). Yeah, it messes up the looks of the gun, but the probe is always where it needs to be.  Also reducing the insertions and removals keeps those orings in better shape (ie not nicked). As far as it falling out and losing it? I can't think of any fill probe that I've dealt with that would fall out even if the gun was being dragged behind a truck on a bumpy dirt road.

I was pleasantly surprised to find the current review gun (Brocock Concept XR Lite in .177) uses the exact same dimensions of fill probe as the previous wooden stocked Brocock Concept that I own. (yeah they recycled the name). Was sent the review gun without the probe and snagged the probe off my personal gun.

[anti-squirrel]

I prefer Foster fittings, simply because they are so easy to work with.

I concur with Scott as to the WHY, and concur with Manny as to probes needed to be standardized, but only as long as they standardize to my EdGun's probes.

I also cheat, though: the pellets that do well with a certain PCP will sit with the probe inside the same tool caddy AKA ammo can.

[Motorhead]

Lol ... I too have a disdain for probes.  At last count no less than 6 different ones to service the guns worked with.. What a PITA !

[avator]

Yep, I would have zero qualms with probes if they were standardized. But if you think about it... do all your guns shoot the same pellets?

[mackeral5]

A probe style connection has never tried to whip me to death when I wasn't as careful as I should have been in making certain the foster connection was connected properly.  Those heavy female quick connects hurt!!!

Probes seem safer.  But I do not like having multiple probes.  Currently that isn't an issue for me as I only have one gun that takes a probe....

[ranchibi]

When researching to purchase a new PCP, having a foster fill can tip the scales toward the one sporting it. My new RAW has a foster fill and no breech o’ring...very happy about those two.

[limbshaker]

I think one reason manufacturers include their own probes with the rifle is so that they can ensure the quality of the fill interface matches the quality  on THEIR rifle. I get that. I cringe when I see someone sticking a chinamens Foster knockoff onto a $2000 Daystate.

One example I like is how a lot of people complained about the wacky Air Arms fill coupler. But it was locking, positive, and had a bronze filter built in. How often do you hear of Air Arms rifles with fill valve leaks? Hardly ever. I had one for years and never had a leak of any kind. Can't say that for the fill valves on my other brands.

I don't mind probes. I prefer them over a bulky foster recessed into a hole you can barely reach. The only beef with probes is they need to come with a dust plug for the rifle. A lot don't, but some do.

If you seem to be tearing up probe orings, switch them to polyurethane. Should last about forever after that.

Remember having to remove a cylinder or bottle to fill it and then reinstall it on the gun? Now there is a pain in the ole butt! We've came a long way at least lol.

[cherokeesteve]

The probes for my Hatsan PCP’s and my Evanix Rainstorm II are identical. Either/or will fill any pcp I have.
Of course all need an Air Venturi adapter.

[Hoosier Daddy]

One example I like is how a lot of people complained about the wacky Air Arms fill coupler. But it was locking, positive, and had a bronze filter built in. How often do you hear of Air Arms rifles with fill valve leaks? Hardly ever. I had one for years and never had a leak of any kind. Can't say that for the fill valves on my other brands.

Chase, I was going to gripe about the Air Arms fill adapter...



But with your explanation, now it makes more sense.
Thanks for opening my eyes.

[Ribbonstone]

So.....do you use the probe directly attached to a fill hose....or do you use a probe adapted to a foster shaped QD hook up?

[VaporTrail]

A probe style connection has never tried to whip me to death when I wasn't as careful as I should have been in making certain the foster connection was connected properly.  Those heavy female quick connects hurt!!!

Probes seem safer.  But I do not like having multiple probes.  Currently that isn't an issue for me as I only have one gun that takes a probe....

I think I prefer a Foster over a probe. All it took was one time for me not properly securing the Foster...I learned my lesson after that. Not wanting to be whipped with the QD is also another reason I always pay close attention when I'm connecting them.

Truthfully speaking, I'm still a bit unsettled when I'm filling my guns, be it Foster or probe. I wish there was a fill system that allowed me to keep well clear of the hose and the connection. Not to mention the pipebomb.

[Insanity]

When I had only one pcp a probe didnt bother me. Now that I have three it's a minor inconvenience to swap the two probes. The mrod is foster so finding I like it more than probes.

I would like a foster fitting on the end and the pressure gauge on the side or under like on a mrod. I'm not too keen looking down the business end even knowing it's not loaded. I'd imagine a blast of air could hurt you say it went into your eye.

[Bladebum]

With pressure gauges on end of air tube ... necessary if wanting clean lines.  Placing a foster fill forward of trigger guard by in large only seen on UNREGULATED guns. *You don't want the fitting sticking out in the fore grip areas.
Understanding the requirements of WHERE in the gun the air is put into it and relationship to regulators, bottles or complex stock shapes etc is very much behind when & why a probe is utilized over a foster male fill.

JMO ...
Scott S

Scott, so just so i make sure i understand, is it not possible for the manufacturers to install the tank/air tube pressure guage just forward of the regulator pressure gauge imbbeded nice and flush in the stock? that way making it possible to use foster fitting on the end of the tube and have the gauge in a place where can be read without looking down the barrel as well as getting rid of the need for a fill probe? for bottle guns i understand things become more difficult for that sort of placement.