Most PCP airgunners wonder about how many fills they will get from their cylinder. It depends on a few things: the capacity of the cylinder, the pressure to which it’s been filled, the size of the air cylinder on the air rifle, the pressure to which that can be filled, the efficiency of the rifle and how many shots have been taken before refilling. We have a team of expert technicians and a complete repair shop that are able to service a large variety of brands/models of airguns. With a non-regulated airgun it’s a different ball game. The Air Arms S400 is a classic example of a non-regulated PCP. Air Arms quotes a fill pressure of 190bar, yet while you can fill to that pressure it’s likely the action will benefit from a lower initial fill pressure if ultimate consistency is required for competition use. Think about the length of the hose you’ll need. A longer hose gives you more space to manoeuvre and you are less likely to bend the hose, which should be avoided whenever possible. Filling a PCP air rifle If you live in a state or city where air guns are treated as firearms you may be able to take advantage of our FFL special program.

For HFT/FT enthusiasts and hunters who want to maximise and fine-tune performance, some judicious trial and error testing using a chronograph on the range will be time well spent.

Regulated airguns

Obviously the pressure inside your charging cylinder will fall every time you fill your gun. When the pressure drops too low, you’ll need to take the cylinder to the dive shop so it can be refilled. It’s worth ringing ahead to book it in.

Owning a PCP airgun means additional cost compared with other types of airgun since charging gear will be needed, be it a dedicated pump or air bottle. If you take the high-pressure air bottle route then safely store it well away from children. For owners of several PCP airguns this can be frustrating as constantly unscrewing adaptors from cables and adding different ones is not only time-consuming, but may lead to air leaks, with threads becoming worn or dirty. This could cause the first 15-20 shots to be lower powered until the residual pressure drops to 170bar. At this point the string of 65 consistent shots will be produced before the velocities drop off in the normal way. It's important to know that due to state and local laws, there are certain restrictions for various products. Don’t f ill your rifle to a higher pressure than the manufacturer recommends. You won’t get any more shots and you could damage your gun. Fill Limit

Ensuring a tight seal when charging a PCP airgun

Take care to keep the air fill line hose as straight as possible – this helps airflow and minimises strain on the components