is CO2 worth it

[bradisfun]

hi guys (and girls) i as wondering if it would be worth investing in a co2 system since my compressor will only go to 120psi
i haven't built my gun yet but i will be doing it soon as it is my bday on the 28th november so i will have some cash and my gun will probaly be an all metal coxal 'sniper" with piston valve and wooden stock
so do u think it is worth getting a co2 set up or not

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

If you're making a smaller calibre launcher, and you can invest in a design that can take the forces involved, its worth looking into higher pressures.

[Solar]

I would vote for compressed air from a scuba tank. www.ninjapaintball.com has nice little tanks and fill stations. You need to regulate using air or co2, so why not go air?

[velocity3x]

IMO co2 as a propellent is just slightly better than mud. I recently gave it up for nitrogen and plan to move to helium as the next step.

[Technician1002]

How you buy CO2 will affect your operating cost. How you use your launcher will affect the performance. Other gases such a He have high per shot costs. Light gas will make any small leak into a huge leak. High volumes can fit through the smallest cracks at high speed. CO2 is the reverse. Due to the mass, any flow restrictions will slow CO2. Use CO2 on high COEF valves.

With loose projectiles (poor barrel seal) the CO2 will perform better as less gas will leak past the projectile. With a good seal and attempts to reach SOS, the air will be a better performer.

[D_Hall]

I would vote for compressed air from a scuba tank. www.ninjapaintball.com has nice little tanks and fill stations. You need to regulate using air or co2, so why not go air?

One advantage of CO2 over air/nitrogen is storage density. Much more energy can be stored in the same volume tank if you're using CO2. This can result in a significanly more portable system. In addition, depending on your location CO2 may be a lot cheaper (but this seems to be geographically dependent).

So if you have a high coef valve for your application and are shooting safely subsonic, there are no disadvantages to CO2 and in fact, some advantages.


As for the orginal question of "is CO2 worth it?" As in so many cases, the correct answer is, "It depends...."

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

I would vote for compressed air from a scuba tank. Ninja Paintball has nice little tanks and fill stations. You need to regulate using air or co2, so why not go air?

I can vouch for the usefulness of such a setup, though granted I already had the SCUBA tank available for my PCPs

[bradisfun]

how many psi does a scuba tank go to(just a cheap 1)

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

They are normally filled to between 250-300 Bar (3750-4500 psi)

The paintball tanks linked to are normally filled to 3000 psi and the reg output can then be adjusted to 450/650/850 psi by adding or removing shims.

[bradisfun]

well i live in Austraila and i don't think that i can get any paint ball stuff because i don't have i gun licance nor does any 1 in my family but can get a scuba tank
sooooooooooo could i use a propane tank or any thing else like that (if i did this i would use a scuba tank to fill what ever i use

[inonickname]

You should be able to buy CO2/HPA bottles. They do have uses other than airguns and paintball.

Definitely DON'T fill a propane cylinder directly from a scuba tank. They are intended for 100 psi or so depending on temperature, and scuba tanks are filled to over 3000 psi.

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

you'd have to be very careful with filling though if doing so directly from the SCUBA tank, your launcher should include some sort of safety feature like a pop-off valve or burst disk.

[bradisfun]

ok thanks for the advice u probaly stoped another 13 year old from blowing him self up lol

[jeepkahn]

So if you have a high coef valve for your application and are shooting safely subsonic, there are no disadvantages to CO2 and in fact, some advantages.


As for the orginal question of "is CO2 worth it?" As in so many cases, the correct answer is, "It depends...."

CO2 seems to be better for heavier projectiles at high pressures, Decimater shoots superballs faster with hpa, and steel bearings faster with co2...

[john bunsenburner]

Hell what IS the rating on those bbq propane canisters, they sure look like they could take atleast 400psi...