PCP Rifle - How Long Does it Hold Pressure?

[gg51]

Well, time for my second DA question (here at least, many more have come before elsewhere) - I have read many threads, specs from several manufacturers and retailers, but haven't seen an answer.  So, my dumb question - how long do the PCP rifles hold pressure?  Roughly, an hour or so, a week, a couple months while the owner might be down south for a winter?

Say I go Marauder with a pump, assuming the rifle is ok if I put 3000 in in December will it be there in May? 

Forgiveness is appreciated if this has been asked and answered every month since ... but I did try the search function.  Thanks all

[Ribbonstone]

It should hold for months if not years.  Of course, some have slow leaks and do lose air (if there were fast leaks we'd easily find them and cure the problem).  Kind of disguising that is the small changes in pressure from temperature.  Not nearly as much as co2, but a warm tank will read a higher air pressure than a cold one (or a warm vs. cold gun).

Nature does work against you.  It's just the way of the universe to want to even things out (stasis), so a container of high pressure air is like a challenge. It's ALWAYS a one way street(entropy eventually wins). Lucky for us nature is very patient, it can wait years to even things out.

[gg51]

It should hold for months if not years.  Of course, some have slow leaks and do lose air (if there were fast leaks we'd easily find them and cure the problem).  Kind of disguising that is the small changes in pressure from temperature.  Not nearly as much as co2, but a warm tank will read a higher air pressure than a cold one (or a warm vs. cold gun).

Nature does work against you.  It's just the way of the universe to want to even things out (stasis), so a container of high pressure air is like a challenge. It's ALWAYS a one way street(entropy eventually wins). Lucky for us nature is very patient, it can wait years to even things out.

Ok, thanks, that reminds me of an old saw about 90% of home maintenance issues are about water, and water always wins if I recall correctly. 

[Geoff]

Mine would hold (Disco at 2k psi) for weeks between shooting.  Lately I am chasing an 8 psi/hour leak caused when I did a mod.  It's mildly annoying though I am only looking at finding it with mild enthusiasm.  LOL

[Tommy]

I cannot quit shooting my disco long enough to see if it leaks. Longest it has sat un shot is overnight and no leaks.
Tommy

[longislandhunter]

Mine all hold their pressure in between shooting session..... sometimes months at a time.  I haven't shot my condor in almost a year and when I checked it the other day it was right where I left it 

JEff

[c2k5]

Just like everyone said, if everything is right it will hold pressure for years. When it doesn't just replace o-rings and re-tape threads.

[Tater]

Mine all hold their pressure in between shooting session..... sometimes months at a time.  I haven't shot my condor in almost a year and when I checked it the other day it was right where I left it 

JEff

That's great it's still holding air.....but get out and SHOOT THAT THING.   

[Bicycleman]

When the Spring Squirrel Season ended May 25, I brought my Discovery .22 upstairs.  It had about 1,800 PSI showing on the gauge at that time.  I took one shot since then; so it now has about 1,735 PSI.  (I just went and looked at the gauge, and that is what it has right now.)  I don't know how long it will hold pressure, but at this time, it doesn't leak down.

[grobe1458]

pcp's like a tire should hold air for a long time unless there's a air leak somewhere.

[markasaurus]

At least a month or two.  If it loses air faster then that the usual issue is the air gauge seal.  I tried every kind of cheap "solution" and none of them worked-not even JB Weld!  The white teflon tape will not work, you have to use the black kind, it is called "ninja tape" and it's available at paintball shops and online. 

I try to keep at least 1000 psi in my Prod because as is often pointed out, if you don't keep air in the gun it will then not hold air for very long at all.  My pet theory is that the uncompressed air seals change shape enough to cause a leak, when left without pressure on them- but no one seems to be able to say what causes this phenomenon for sure.    I wish i could just let the air pressure leak out and forget about it till i need it -but changing all the seals inside-too much work! 

[Airjason]

My PCPs hold air for years. I haven't shot my two Career 707s for at least two years and the pressure gage still reads 150 bar which is what I store them at. I had one of my FX or RWS Excalibers spring a slow leak last year, after owning it for 20 years. Had to take the stock off and place the gun in a tub of water to find the air leak. Turned out it was the fill valve o-ring that was causing it.

[Gatorproof]

I have an extra Hatsan 255cc tank that I have had for about 5 months and still has 200 bar.
I guess it is safe to assume that as long as Pascals law is not violated it will hold
Not a DA question, if ya don't know ya don't know.
Chances are you know some things that we don't know.

Be safe,
Gator

[the1stkim]

Same as gatorproof. I just went and checked almost 200 bar and I have not touched it since January. I got tired of readjusting my ldc