What to look for in a used scuba tank?
Knowing Jack Squat about the world of scuba tanks, what does one need to watch out for before diving into it? So far I have checked CL and see a lot of scuba gear from divers and scuba tanks from paint ball guys for sale. I know the tanks need to inspected but not 100% sure what the regs are on this. On the flip side should a guy just go new and avoid the potential pitfalls? Right now I am ruling out carbon fiber purely due to $.
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THANKS a Million! Has this been brought up elsewhere?
Good advice above. The nice thing about a Condor is you can make several guns from it. As far as SCBA Vs. SCUBA. I think something to consider is how much air you will use. Where can I find more info about this airgun show coming to Fresno?
I am passionate about not letting newbies make the same mistake I did.
And I have been told I have a few rough edges, whether being opinionated is one of the rough edges or a catagory all its own is another subject.
$800.00 will in fact get you into a entry level PCP and a scuba tank. But if you stick to this hobby, in a year or so, you will see you were wasting your time and money with scuba.
Now if your not quite certin if you want to do this PCP thing, get a Discovery, it fills to 2000 PSI and will work with a scuba tank and be well within your budget and you can get your feet wet.
If I had to rate air sources with money not being a issue they would look like this with prices if you get a good deal.
1. 4500 PSI gas or 220 electirc compressor and SCBA $3300.00
2. 4500 PSI Shoebox and scba $800
3. 6000 PSI Nitrogent ank, regulator on fill whip. $450 plus monthly rent/fills
4. SCBA tank and a place to fill them $$450.00
5. Scuba $165.00
6. FX or Hill pump 175.00
RC
Fortunately I have access to 4kpsi Nitrogen free at work so I can just fill up my condor tank at the job.
RC has great advice.
Remember to break down your goals like any firearm… Choose you caliber for target (177) or pest removal (22/25). Then you can choose power: fill pressure and barrel length (12″, 18″, 24″). Finally wrap a gun, scope, and air source around your choice. See if that fits your budget (don’t got cheap on he scope)
I have flip flopped about replacing my 177 12″ a few times but keep drawing the same conclusions… It’s accurate, cheap to shoot, easy on air for target shooting, and cost 1/2 that of a euro rifle. I bought the tank, fill hose, and scope with savings.
Browse the forum… Fire off a question in “other guns” and see what people suggest.
Ivanhoe,
I am passionate about not letting newbies make the same mistake I did.
And I have been told I have a few rough edges, whether being opinionated is one of the rough edges or a catagory all its own is another subject.
$800.00 will in fact get you into a entry level PCP and a scuba tank. But if you stick to this hobby, in a year or so, you will see you were wasting your time and money with scuba.
Now if your not quite certin if you want to do this PCP thing, get a Discovery, it fills to 2000 PSI and will work with a scuba tank and be well within your budget and you can get your feet wet.
If I had to rate air sources with money not being a issue they would look like this with prices if you get a good deal.
1. 4500 PSI gas or 220 electirc compressor and SCBA $3300.00
2. 4500 PSI Shoebox and scba $800
3. 6000 PSI Nitrogent ank, regulator on fill whip. $450 plus monthly rent/fills
4. SCBA tank and a place to fill them $$450.00
5. Scuba $165.00
6. FX or Hill pump 175.00
RC
I appreciate all the advice RC. Being so new to the AG world It’s a job in and of itself just to learn the lingo spoken on some of these forums. Part of me wants to hold off on any purchase until I get to see and feel some different rifles (I know there is a show coming to Fresno in March) but I am itchin to get a rifle. Unfortunately there are no places around here (that I know of) that carry decent air rifles.
right back at you ! FSU ’90 grad…..
That might mean me and you are close in age group? I’m 46. Originally from Merced. Are you new to A.G. or been playing with them for years?
yea – I turn 46 in July! I’ve always been around the Visalia Tulare area. Technically my first AG was a Crossman 760 I had back in approx ’77. I bought another one about 15 yrs ago that is nothing in comparison. I used to pick sparrows off the top of our oak tree with a cheapo 4x scope off hand with that first 760. My older brother had one of the 760s with full wood. They were both pretty darn accurate for what we used them for.
as far as serious airguns – I am a complete noob. I have been hunting for 35+ years with powder burners so I am not new to shooting per se. I am really on the fence about the whole pcp vs springer debate. I know the cash outlay for a decent springer will only be approx (5-$600) (rifle only) whereas a pcp will be at least $800+ (rifle plus air source) At this point I am still trying to learn the ropes and who is who in the airgun/tuner world. And even that is a bit of a challenge.
R.C. do you ever think shoebox will come out with a 3000/4500 switch for the compressor?
I have been down that road fellas.
They are heavy and if your anywhere close to filling to 3000 PSI your only getting a couple of fills.
If you have a place to filll a scba, a scuba tank makes no sence at all. And saying you can use it for a intial fill is either hypothetical and not based on experience or at worse lunacy as far as making your dollar go the furtherest. Fill adapters cost money guys, and having two different systems just does not pencil out.
I had two of the scuba tanks and used them for a year, I bought them from the dive shop and gave 50 bucks each for them. The only thing I can say about the scuba tanks was that they were better than buying and returning a new/defective AF pump every 4 to 6 months.
The other thing is that if you ever want to go with a big bore, scuba tanks just simply will not get you there.
One of the most rewarding day in my air gunning career was taking my heavy, ineffecient scuba tanks back to the dive shop to sell back them when I got the Shoebox and a used scba. And the scuba dive shop was full of great guys, and I got to know them really well due being in there a couple times a week in the harvest season.
If you don’t have a place to fill a scba, by a out of date scba and a Shoebox, you will eventually if you stick to this addiction. I know because I have 6 scba tanks, 2-44’s 3-66’s and a Pygmy. And I have 4 rifles that take over a 3000 PSI fill, two that do 3200 and 2 that do 4000 PSI something that I could never enjoy if I was stuck with a scuba tank.
RC
right back at you ! FSU ’90 grad…..
That might mean me and you are close in age group? I’m 46. Originally from Merced. Are you new to A.G. or been playing with them for years?
right back at you ! FSU ’90 grad…..
Howdy neighbor.
There is a dive shop by my friend work that they have used tanks for 125.00. The one I got just came back from hydro testing. I agree with the 4500 tanks though. I would make sure that you have someone that can fill it! There is a place by me that sells the paintball 90cc carbon fiber for a top off and its 4500. Using the scuba 3000 to fill and the 4500 to top off. And the bonus is free air in the paintball one as long as I buy the tank from them.
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http://www.pacificairgunexpo.com/
THANKS a Million! Has this been brought up elsewhere?
I don’t know. I just happened to come across it on yellow forum.