PCP Hand Pumps

[Cajun72]

Well I am new to pcp, have a Benji Disco on the way.
I came with an air venturi tank and hose. But need a hand pump, any recommendations? I have read about the hill, $50 chinese ones, Benji ? Some good some bad?

[JimD]

I have a Benjamin hand pump and a Chinese one.  The Benjamin should work fine for your Discovery but wouldn't pump to the 4000 psi my Avenger can use.  So I got the Chinese one.  I think the Chinese one is a better buy - I just picked one out on Amazon.  It pumps my Prod and Avenger up fine and to the 3000 psi the Benjamin will do it takes about the same number of pumps.  But it will go higher, it costs a lot less, and it has a simple moisture trap in the line.  Plus it came with a bunch of spare parts.  It works well so far and others report years of trouble free service.  I think the Benjamin is a little nicer in some ways but I don't see it worth the price difference. 

[tracker1955]

Don't buy the Benji, they rust internally. I would make sure whatever I bought had stainless tubing. Most of the China pumps do fine, have read many many posts, and most owners happy with their purchase.

[Bicycleman]

Good morning, Adam.
I have three hand pumps:  The oldest is a Benjamin hand pump that came with a Discovery I bought in 2013.  The rifle and pump are both still working fine.  The rifle is in Lafayette and the pump is with me in Tennessee. 
The second one is a Chinese one that worked fine for about a year before needing a rebuild.  Since then, it has not been dependable.
So that necessitated #3 - another Benjamin that I bought in July, 2020. 
Recommendation:  If you can afford it, buy a Benjamin or a HILL (even better but $$$).
GEAUX TIGERS!!!

[KevinJBrown]

There are lots and lots of topics on this very thing. I picked up a Air Venturi MK4 Kit by Hill Hand Pump with my Marauder shortly after shelter in place started last year. I haven't used anything else to fill it since. I've always used the drier and not had to replace the media (yet). I think the new model is the MK5. The discussion of how many shots to take vs. the effort to pump a given gun back up etc. is also around. Depending on how much you weigh is going to make a difference as well. I use my weight to do the work and my legs lifting me back up and patience to let the pump work properly and I actually enjoy the exercise as part of airgunning.

[Firewalker]

I bought a "Four Uncles" hand pump on Amazon for 64 bucks since it's just a rebrand bug name pump with a different foot.

It came with a full oring kit and it's got coolant inside the outer tube.

So far, so good.

[Earl]

My 2 Chinese pumps work good.
My Benjamin never did work good and it is now a rusted piece of junk.

[Tack Driver 10]

I bought a Chinese pump off EBay for $45 delivered.
Since the input is at the top of the handle, made a new solid handle.
It seals to the pump and attaches a home built dehydrator.
Been working great for the 3 months I've owned it.

[Bentong]

Bought my first Chinese pump in 2016 then following years...prizes went down and to date I ended up with 2 spare Chinese pumps that are gathering dust for the first pump would not quit. 👍👍

[Firewalker]

What's in your dryer?

I bought a Chinese pump off EBay for $45 delivered.
Since the input is at the top of the handle, made a new solid handle.
It seals to the pump and attaches a home built dehydrator.
Been working great for the 3 months I've owned it.

[Nomadic Pirate]

Ok then, I had a lot of handpumps in my airgun career

8 HILLs, 2 FX and 2 or 3 Hatsans

all of the HILLs from MK II to MK IV developed severe pitting on the main tube in very short order, all needed a re- build withing a year or so and the re-build Kit was 38 bucks.

I bought this China pump about 2.5 years ago



The pump is still spotless  ( and I pump a lot ) if it goes down a new pump would cost just about as much as a HILL re-Build kit so I will not even consider a HILL anymore, not even close.

I have 3 more China pumps that have been sitting in their boxes patiently waiting if they ever will be called up for duty


The China pump today is the best deal in PCP air supply, period.

[Earl]

quote from above;
"The China pump today is the best deal in PCP air supply, period."

I agree !!!

[Tack Driver 10]

What's in your dryer?

I bought a Chinese pump off EBay for $45 delivered.
Since the input is at the top of the handle, made a new solid handle.
It seals to the pump and attaches a home built dehydrator.
Been working great for the 3 months I've owned it.

The white discs are 1/8" felt and the blue media is desiccant.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1-Quart-Premium-Blue-Indicating-Silica-Gel-Desiccant-Beads-2-LBS-Rechargeable/283327757232?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

[Firewalker]

Thank you sir!

What's in your dryer?

I bought a Chinese pump off EBay for $45 delivered.
Since the input is at the top of the handle, made a new solid handle.
It seals to the pump and attaches a home built dehydrator.
Been working great for the 3 months I've owned it.

The white discs are 1/8" felt and the blue media is desiccant.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1-Quart-Premium-Blue-Indicating-Silica-Gel-Desiccant-Beads-2-LBS-Rechargeable/283327757232?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

[Cajun72]

Ordered a Chinese pump from Amazon
It arrived today, assembled and oiled
Works great, pumped up my new disco no problem
Thanks for all the advice

[Bicycleman]

Adam, that is good to hear.  If your pump came with extra o-rings, keep the in a place you will remember and be able to find them later.   
Good luck!
I really, really enjoyed my Discovery .22 and it took over 100 squirrels in the four years I hunted with it.  My brother is now hunting with it and he has taken probably over 100 more.


Geaux Tigers!

[luge007]

When I bought my Airforce Escape SS, I picked up a Benjamin pump as well.  So far it has performed flawlessly over the 4 or so years I've owned it.  I then added a number of PCP's to my collection and figured I SHOULD get a backup pump. 


I cheeped out and bought a Chinese pump off 'the big A', one that had a lot of positive reviews and it was under $60.  Skeptically I set it up and started using it on spare bottles just to make sure it wasn't spitting water or oil or whatever.  So far so good, "clean" air with no water, BUT there is a very strong smell of petroleum product in the air.  Has anyone else noticed how 'stinky' the air is coming out of these Chinese pumps?? My Benjamin pump does NOT have this stink. The smell is probably not an issue, but I'm wondering IF it is this stinky, will it effect O-rings in the long term since I've read it is bad to use solvents or petroleum based products on most O-rings.


Anyone else experience 'the stink' or have any issues with O-rings in their guns yet?


M

[crazyhorse1]

I've been using my "no stink" Benjamin pump since Aug 2008 when I purchased my Discovery .22.  Think our climate is good for hand pumps as I've had no issues.

[tracker1955]

I think humidity is a definite factor in the life of a Benji pump, mine lasted two years before the tubing inside became so rust pitted that a new seal kit could not repair it. Tennessee summers are very humid and the inside of my old pump was covered in water when I last tried to rebuild it. That's the reason I recommended getting one that has stainless tubing as the Benji definitely does not.

[Bicycleman]

Tom, we are not that far apart; but I don't have that rust problem you described.  What I do that may help eliminate the moisture is to pump my rifles in the driest area of the house - an upstairs room.  Winter or summer, it is always hotter and drier up there.
If possible, maybe give it a try.