Highest volume hand pump

[Hobbyman2007]

Does anyone know who makes the highest volume per stroke hand pump? I’ve looked through as many specs as possible but there is no clear winner. I like to have a backup when in the field.

[Doug Wall]

I don't think that's the direction that you want to go. Compressing more volume requires more effort, therefore, the highest volume pump, would require the most effort to operate. With more guns looking for 4k+ psi, you want the least effort.

[KevinJBrown]

I don't know that I would want a pump with more volume than the one I have. I use my weight (which is just north of 200#s) on the compression stroke. Which lets me use my legs instead of my arms to compress the pump. And at that when I start getting close to 3000 PSI, I'm working on the downstroke. If I started with a bigger piston area or a longer stroke (that how you get more volume) that pumping effort would no longer be easy and would no longer be "fun," and I'd be looking at another way to pump up my gun. As it is, I have no problem with the maximum of around 80 pumps that it takes to pressurize the hose and then fill the tank from below the regulated pressure of around 2000 PSI to 3000 PSI on my Marauder.     

[Mole2017]

Same thoughts as Doug about max volume vs effort. Now, if you are willing, a smaller bottle on the rifle gets you back up to useable pressure for less strokes at the expense of more frequent filling. My R10 is good for 60 to 80 shots on a fill, which is a lot of shooting on a hunting trip for me. So much so that I don't bring the hand pump along on hunting trips. The R10 is a .177; things aren't so easy as the caliber goes past .25 or so.

But it you really want to cut down the strokes, how about bringing along a lightweight portable tank of compressed air to boost the hand pump inlet pressure? The tank would probably have to stay at the car or some base camp, but it sure cuts down the number of strokes to fill my rifle. I think 10 to 20 PSI cuts the number of strokes about in half for me. 2 gallons at about 120 PSI is good for 4 maybe 5 refills via boosted hand pump on my R10 with a 200 CC bottle.

Of course, if you are dragging tanks around or are going to need a lot refills, yeah, a SCUBA tank refill system might work, but that is more money and extra weight, depending on your tank. Or a portable compressor.

[Earl]

I use a Chinese hand pump for my 5 PCP rifles.
I bought a second Chinese hand pump when they were on sale for $40.
They are good pumps.
I am 77 years old and 204 pounds.

[fv22]

I agree with finding a higher volume pump. I have the typical cheap chinese pump and use it several times a week to bring my Avenger from about 2700-2800 to 4300. Takes about 120 or so pumps, do that at one time with a 2-3 second pause at top and bottom of each stroke. Would love to find one that could bring that down to 100 or less to cut down on the time it takes. I'm 5'9", 175 pounds, on the wrong side of 60 and have no problem pumping to 4,300 psi.

[Doug Wall]

Here's a high volume hand pump, with a 1 1/4" bore. Only problem is that it would take about 5,500 pounds of down force to get 4,500 psi out of it. 
https://www.harborfreight.com/high-flow-hand-air-pump-63304.html?cid=paid_google|||63304&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_IX-07r67AIVvoVaBR1woggSEAQYASABEgI6KvD_BwE

[MagnumPI45]

I agree with finding a higher volume pump. I have the typical cheap chinese pump and use it several times a week to bring my Avenger from about 2700-2800 to 4300. Takes about 120 or so pumps, do that at one time with a 2-3 second pause at top and bottom of each stroke. Would love to find one that could bring that down to 100 or less to cut down on the time it takes. I'm 5'9", 175 pounds, on the wrong side of 60 and have no problem pumping to 4,300 psi.

To pump my Liberty from 2500 to 3000 takes over 200 pumps with my Chinese pump, if I could go from 2700 to 4300 in just 120 pumps I would be pretty happy, that would probably take me over 400 pumps.

I have been keeping a eye out for a pump with a larger, stronger piston/system that can pump more air into PCP's to cut down on the number of pumps I have to do, I don't mind if it requires some more effort, I would think they would have come up with something by now that puts out more volume of air. 

With Liberties having weak poppet valves you are supposed to store them at 1160 max so they aren't ready to go at all times and it takes a *(&^ of a lot of pumps just to get them to 3000 or so psi if I want to shoot a couple mags at decent velocity.

[fv22]

I agree with finding a higher volume pump. I have the typical cheap chinese pump and use it several times a week to bring my Avenger from about 2700-2800 to 4300. Takes about 120 or so pumps, do that at one time with a 2-3 second pause at top and bottom of each stroke. Would love to find one that could bring that down to 100 or less to cut down on the time it takes. I'm 5'9", 175 pounds, on the wrong side of 60 and have no problem pumping to 4,300 psi.

To pump my Liberty from 2500 to 3000 takes over 200 pumps with my Chinese pump, if I could go from 2700 to 4300 in just 120 pumps I would be pretty happy, that would probably take me over 400 pumps.

I have been keeping a eye out for a pump with a larger, stronger piston/system that can pump more air into PCP's to cut down on the number of pumps I have to do, I don't mind if it requires some more effort, I would think they would have come up with something by now that puts out more volume of air. 

With Liberties having weak poppet valves you are supposed to store them at 1160 max so they aren't ready to go at all times and it takes a *(&^ of a lot of pumps just to get them to 3000 or so psi if I want to shoot a couple mags at decent velocity.

How large is the storage tank on the Liberty? I wouldn't want to go that many pumps either. Many times I don't have a lot of time to shoot so just do 3 magazines worth, 30 shots. Takes about 65-70 pumps to put it back to about 4,300. Is your pump working correctly, has it always been like that?

[MagnumPI45]

I agree with finding a higher volume pump. I have the typical cheap chinese pump and use it several times a week to bring my Avenger from about 2700-2800 to 4300. Takes about 120 or so pumps, do that at one time with a 2-3 second pause at top and bottom of each stroke. Would love to find one that could bring that down to 100 or less to cut down on the time it takes. I'm 5'9", 175 pounds, on the wrong side of 60 and have no problem pumping to 4,300 psi.

To pump my Liberty from 2500 to 3000 takes over 200 pumps with my Chinese pump, if I could go from 2700 to 4300 in just 120 pumps I would be pretty happy, that would probably take me over 400 pumps.

I have been keeping a eye out for a pump with a larger, stronger piston/system that can pump more air into PCP's to cut down on the number of pumps I have to do, I don't mind if it requires some more effort, I would think they would have come up with something by now that puts out more volume of air. 

With Liberties having weak poppet valves you are supposed to store them at 1160 max so they aren't ready to go at all times and it takes a *(&^ of a lot of pumps just to get them to 3000 or so psi if I want to shoot a couple mags at decent velocity.

How large is the storage tank on the Liberty? I wouldn't want to go that many pumps either. Many times I don't have a lot of time to shoot so just do 3 magazines worth, 30 shots. Takes about 65-70 pumps to put it back to about 4,300. Is your pump working correctly, has it always been like that?

4300psi.  Pump has always been like that, have had to send a few back and had to put some thread locking tape on this one because it was leaking some air.   I have a blue metal canister attachment to filter moisture/oil but I only have 1 smallish filter in it, it had another sponge in it, I took it out and it did not seem to make much difference. 

I am hoping soon they come up with a pump that is better quality/lasts longer and pumps more air or reliable compressors in the $200 range or less.

[AlanMcD]

Have you considered feeding your pump with air under regulated pressure from a tank / shop compressor?  That can greatly reduce the number of strokes needed - running at an input of 15psi would double the air flow through the pump.  There are many posts here about how to do that, and you can also pass the air through a desiccant filter to dry it out as well.

Of course compressing more air means generating more heat, so you do need to manage that, most likely by taking fewer strokes between breaks to cool down the pump.  At least the stoke count would be lower though, if that is the goal.

[Mole2017]

Feeding compressed air to the hand pump cuts the number of strokes in about half for me. I do notice some additional heating of the pump during the process (i.e. earlier on in the filling process), but I'm done so quick I usually don't take more of a break for more than a minute or two every 20 or 40 strokes, and that is usually to catch my breath/rest my arms. It doesn't get too hot to touch; just warm.

Now if I were to try to blast away, get my 60 strokes in fast enough to give myself a heart attack too, then, yeah, probably would get too hot to touch...Come to think of it, I've had this pump since about 2017 and haven't had it apart for any maintenance, but I don't think I use it more than a dozen or two times a year.

[Hobbyman2007]

Before buying a compressor I did rely on a hand pump for filling. I boosted my pump like you and it did a great job of shortening the amount of required strokes . I just bought an inexpensive pump to use while in the field to fill the PP750. I think it would be real nice if the manufacturers would put the cf/stroke their pumps put out.

[MagnumPI45]

Have you considered feeding your pump with air under regulated pressure from a tank / shop compressor?  That can greatly reduce the number of strokes needed - running at an input of 15psi would double the air flow through the pump.  There are many posts here about how to do that, and you can also pass the air through a desiccant filter to dry it out as well.

Of course compressing more air means generating more heat, so you do need to manage that, most likely by taking fewer strokes between breaks to cool down the pump.  At least the stoke count would be lower though, if that is the goal.

I have never done that, would not know how until I researched it and never really heard of it until now.  We have a tank for putting air in tires and a smaller cheap compressor to fill it up.  How much more effective is it and does it create any other issues/problems, difficult to implement?

[Mole2017]

Have you considered feeding your pump with air under regulated pressure from a tank / shop compressor?  That can greatly reduce the number of strokes needed - running at an input of 15psi would double the air flow through the pump.  There are many posts here about how to do that, and you can also pass the air through a desiccant filter to dry it out as well.

Of course compressing more air means generating more heat, so you do need to manage that, most likely by taking fewer strokes between breaks to cool down the pump.  At least the stoke count would be lower though, if that is the goal.

I have never done that, would not know how until I researched it and never really heard of it until now.  We have a tank for putting air in tires and a smaller cheap compressor to fill it up.  How much more effective is it and does it create any other issues/problems, difficult to implement?

First, I let my compressor fill to 120 PSI and then wait a day or so. But that's because I've got desiccant in my compressor tank (nutty experiment, but it is working out for me).

To use it, I set my output regulator on the tank at about 10 to 20 PSI (the silly things are not easily read at low pressures...), hook up the pump and let the air flow. Initially the pump handle will come up on its own, so don't let it hit you in the face. (Ok, it is slow, but still...). I don't recall that it does that as the filling progresses.

After about 60 strokes, I'm just about done filling and will close the outlet valve from the air compressor. A few more strokes will use up the air still in the supply line. Then I can bleed the pump and disconnect. The work to fill is probably about the same, just fewer strokes. So your choice is 120 to 160 strokes at atmospheric vs 60 strokes that are a little harder to do at 15 PSI. I find I'll tire more on the atmospheric air than if boosted. Sometimes I'll turn the regulator down to 10 PSI for the last strokes if I feel they are taking too much effort. 

I can fill my R10 4 or 5 times before having to run the compressor again. Which is to say 40 PSI remaining in a two gallon tank is easily enough for one fill. It might be enough to two--I'll have to check next time.

The only hard part was coming up with that interface between my pump handle and the air line from the compressor. Mine is soldered together from some scraps I had laying about (old laptop heatsink, I think it was), but there are a number of ways to do it. At one time, the pump makers were drawing air through the ends of the pump handles and you would see people make adapters for these. My pump and many others these days just have an inlet at the top of the pump, just under the handle. Take the two screws out that hold the handle on and you can't miss it.

If you do use a portable air tank, mind your max pressures. If it is old one, consider a replacement, as those tanks aren't exactly high strength and unless well cared for are subject to rust and failure just like compressor tanks are. Some even come with a note saying to trash them in 10 or 12 years. I suppose nothing stops a determined fellow from conducting his own hydro test on a low pressure portable air tank, just to be sure of his tank.

Of course, a portable air tank probably doesn't come with a regulator like an air compressor does, so you'll have to add one. Pick one with easy to read numbers at those low pressures.