Looking for ideas to make PcP affordable.

[silent_airman]

PcP affordable? Now there's an oxymoron. I have seen that there are quite a few lower end PcP guns that are within my reach, but the stopper for me is the support equipment. Of course the cheapest method of filling tanks is with a hand pump. Because of my physical limitations, using one is out of the question. I cannot even bend over to pick up a pellet off the floor without putting my back out. So unless there is some sort of AI robot I can get to do the pumping for me it's not an option. I priced tanks because there is a dive shop not far from the gun range I use, but those are beyond my means. Forget compressors. So unless one of you is a mechanical genius and has come up with a way to make a hand pump work with a motor or something, PcP is out of reach for me.

[Hoosier Daddy]

Forget compressors.

Why?
There are several out there less $ than a couple trips to the "Dive Shop" and a tank.

[avator]

Most attempts I've seen to motorize a hand pump have failed mostly due to heat. Compressor have really become affordable. Many less than the cost of lower to mid level airgun.
Might not want to wait too long with expected cost of imported stuff increases. But all that remains to be seen.

[Xraycer]

Pcp has never been more affordable than they are today. You can get a brand new gun and motorized compressor for well under $500.
With my latest $150 compressor, I fill the gun directly. No separate air tank is required, and that unit can operate off a car battery, should you want to take into the field. My last 4 pcp guns have been no more than $250, and they all shoot great!

[silent_airman]

Forget compressors.

Why?
There are several out there less $ than a couple trips to the "Dive Shop" and a tank.

Well swell! I had no idea they had gone down in price so much. I had a shoebox about 10 years ago and that was a pricy rig. I assume you can fill the gun directly from that?

[Blowpipe Sam]

Foot operated pumps are available.  They are designed for servicing small volume high pressure suspension systems and gas struts so I don’t know how well they would work for the larger volume of a PCP reservoir.  They are more expensive than a hand pump but cheaper than most compressors.  And they are rare.

Making the jump to PCP’s and the necessary support gear was daunting.  I’m using a $50 Vevor hand pump I bought  on line.  The hand pump works fine for now but if I get more PCP’s or if I get a gun with a large volume reservoir a compressor will almost be a necessity.

So now I pay attention when a new, cheap, compressor appears on the market.  For the price of a couple of new guns I could buy a compressor.  The price of entry is pretty intimidating but once you are over that hump a lot of new opportunities open up.  As I noted in another post, once you own a pump or compressor it makes acquiring more PCP’s very enticing.

[Xraycer]

To give reference to my $500 for today's start-up cost, when I first got back into airguns, about 10 years ago, a pcp start-up would cost nearly $3000!

[Frank in Fairfield]

George,
I have had 7 PCP rifles.
I have had 6 PCP pistols.
I now have only PCP pistol, a small tank (Guppy) and a GX CS2 compressor.
I am 80 years old in August and to me the springers are more fun, albeit sometimes noisy so, the PRod with an LDC, comes in handy in the yard of Northern California.
The GX compressors are very affordable and are probably the basis for all other Chinese manufactured compressors that are re-branded.
They come on the market often and can easily be repaired by amateurs like me using the many YouTube videos.
Good luck..

[Hoosier Daddy]

Forget compressors.

Why?
There are several out there less $ than a couple trips to the "Dive Shop" and a tank.

Well swell! I had no idea they had gone down in price so much. I had a shoebox about 10 years ago and that was a pricy rig. I assume you can fill the gun directly from that?

That is what I do, fill the guns direct... also have two "small" bottles for when I venture away from home... easily filled in minutes with the Y.H.
(The one on the right is a CO2 bottle for my bulk fill guns)

[TorqueMaster]

Forget compressors.

Why?
There are several out there less $ than a couple trips to the "Dive Shop" and a tank.

Well swell! I had no idea they had gone down in price so much. I had a shoebox about 10 years ago and that was a pricy rig. I assume you can fill the gun directly from that?

The one pictured will fill guns directly. 
It is advisable to put some form of moisture filter between the pump and gun, but how elaborate is up to you. 

I just got one similar to that -- a no-name off TEMU for about $110 delivered.  Can run off 12V car battery or external power supply.   Was about $25 delivered for the external 12V (600W) power supply.  Some come with the power supply built-in.  If I were buying the power supply again, I would consider a 13.8V version -- same as a running car alternator.  I have not used it a lot yet, but it seems to chug along happily.  Fills a 300cc tank from 1500 to 3500 in about two minutes.  It reminds me of an old school air compressor -- a much slower pumping action -- vs the buzzsaw sound of modern compressors.  Main downside is it does have a VERY loud fan for cooling -- like shopvac loud.  But so far I'm liking it.

[mobilehomer]

George, this would be pretty close price-wise on a good compressor.
https://gxpumpofficial.com/collections/portable-pump/products/gx-pump-pcp-air-compressor-cs1-i-with-built-in-power-apdater-auto-stop-oil-water-free-4500psi-30mpa-powered-by-110v-220v-ac-or-12v-dc-pcp-compressor-pump-for-air-gun-and-paintball-scuba-tank

[mwgm2020]

......" I priced tanks because there is a dive shop not far from the gun range I use, but those are beyond my means......"

I just bought a 45 min born in 2019, 4500 PSI SCBA tank & valve with a brand new hyrdo, delivered for $160 on eBay.  That tank has 9 years left!   

There are currently a good number of well-priced listings there.

[JimT66]

 George, along with one of these low cost compressors, I would suggest one of the Pinty rifles. Using the code GTA will get you one for a total of $219.00 delivered. Don't. Just take my word, lot of the guys here have bought them, and sing their praises! Very accurate, and strong, with 2 10 round magazines. So you could have a good electric pump, and a rifle, for $400.00. Can't beat that.

[silent_airman]

Years ago I had a custom AF Condor in .25, nice scope and a big case for it. I spent $1.8K alone for the gun, and had a shoebox compressor, which was probably around $500. Then I lost my job, my wife got sick, and I had to sell it off and I lost a ton of money. I vowed never to get that deep into it again. Obviously being on a fixed income means I'll never be able to spend that much again. Even $500 will be a stretch at this point. I may just stick to the cheaper end of airguns and call it good. I haven't decided yet. Here's what I used to have and it brings a tear to my eye. What an awesome gun that was!

[silent_airman]

George, this would be pretty close price-wise on a good compressor.
https://gxpumpofficial.com/collections/portable-pump/products/gx-pump-pcp-air-compressor-cs1-i-with-built-in-power-apdater-auto-stop-oil-water-free-4500psi-30mpa-powered-by-110v-220v-ac-or-12v-dc-pcp-compressor-pump-for-air-gun-and-paintball-scuba-tank

One question about these pumps. How noisy are they? I live in an apartment. I do have a back porch and on nice days I could run it out there, but the neighbors will wonder what I am doing, so quiet is important.

[Rick67]

Years ago I had a custom AF Condor in .25, nice scope and a big case for it. I spent $1.8K alone for the gun, and had a shoebox compressor, which was probably around $500. Then I lost my job, my wife got sick, and I had to sell it off and I lost a ton of money. I vowed never to get that deep into it again. Obviously being on a fixed income means I'll never be able to spend that much again. Even $500 will be a stretch at this point. I may just stick to the cheaper end of airguns and call it good. I haven't decided yet. Here's what I used to have and it brings a tear to my eye. What an awesome gun that was!

That’s an impressive-looking set-up, George 👍

[avator]

Not nearly as loud as the Yong Heng type or even a shop compressor. It will be heard on your porch or in your apartment... not gonna lie. It will raise curiosities from neighbors but if you talk to them and let them know that you will keep it to a minimum and during suitable hours you should be fine. Not much louder than your vacuum cleaner.
If they don't mind you shooting airguns in close proximity they should be accepting. Heck, you might even gain a shooting buddy or 2.

[silent_airman]

Not nearly as loud as the Yong Heng type or even a shop compressor. It will be heard on your porch or in your apartment... not gonna lie. It will raise curiosities from neighbors but if you talk to them and let them know that you will keep it to a minimum and during suitable hours you should be fine. Not much louder than your vacuum cleaner.
If they don't mind you shooting airguns in close proximity they should be accepting. Heck, you might even gain a shooting buddy or 2.

I highly doubt my neighbors would approve, much less join me shooting out back. I could just take the whole rig to the rod and gun club and pump my gun up there. How portable are those?

[silent_airman]

Years ago I had a custom AF Condor in .25, nice scope and a big case for it. I spent $1.8K alone for the gun, and had a shoebox compressor, which was probably around $500. Then I lost my job, my wife got sick, and I had to sell it off and I lost a ton of money. I vowed never to get that deep into it again. Obviously being on a fixed income means I'll never be able to spend that much again. Even $500 will be a stretch at this point. I may just stick to the cheaper end of airguns and call it good. I haven't decided yet. Here's what I used to have and it brings a tear to my eye. What an awesome gun that was!

That’s an impressive-looking set-up, George 👍

Yeah it was. One of those once in a lifetime things.

[JimT66]

Not nearly as loud as the Yong Heng type or even a shop compressor. It will be heard on your porch or in your apartment... not gonna lie. It will raise curiosities from neighbors but if you talk to them and let them know that you will keep it to a minimum and during suitable hours you should be fine. Not much louder than your vacuum cleaner.
If they don't mind you shooting airguns in close proximity they should be accepting. Heck, you might even gain a shooting buddy or 2.

I highly doubt my neighbors would approve, much less join me shooting out back. I could just take the whole rig to the rod and gun club and pump my gun up there. How portable are those?

They are very portable! Most even have a carry handle strap on top. Also, most have a set of cables to power it off your car battery....but make sure you crank your car first!