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HPA Tank Gauge: When Is the Bottle Really Empty?
Your pistol still cycles, but the needle is hugging the bottom of the dial. An r/airsoft player asked "When HPA tank is completely empty?" and the honest answer is that your HPA tank gauge and your gun will tell you different things. The gun usually quits being useful well before the needle hits zero. How do you read an HPA tank gauge near empty? The tank gauge shows bottle pressure, not what reaches the gun. Player report: replies in that thread said the tank is empty when the gauge sits at zero and no air comes out when you connect...
On/Off ASA: Do You Need One on an HPA Tank?
You threaded the regulator onto the bottle, it hissed for a second, and now you're wondering if you skipped a part. An r/airsoft player asked the same thing about an on-tank Wolverine regulator. Short answer: no. An on/off ASA is a convenience part. Your rig shoots the same without one. Do you need an on/off ASA? No. It makes tank swaps easier and kinder to the seals, but it doesn't change velocity or consistency. Player report: replies in that thread said you don't need one, though it's nice to have because it saves wear on the threads. Without one, players...
HPA Tank Thread: Will Any Regulator Fit My Bottle?
Your reg died, or you found a cheap bottle, and you want to know if they'll mate. An r/paintball player asked "Are all HPA tanks standard thread?", meaning the spot where the reg screws into the bottle. For the HPA tank thread, most modern paintball bottles share one standard, but "most" isn't "all." Are all HPA tank threads the same? Most are. PowAir's thread guide says "Most modern paintball HPA bottles use a 5/8-18 UNF neck thread," and that a standard regulator and standard bottle are compatible at that point "in most cases." Carbon and aluminum bottles commonly use the...
HPA Tank in a Hot Car: Safe or Asking for Trouble?
Your gear lives in the trunk between games. An r/airsoft player in a dorm asked "Is it ok for the tank to sit in a car where it may get pretty hot?" Leaving an HPA tank in a hot car is unlikely to end in disaster, but players say bring it inside anyway. Can you leave an HPA tank in a hot car? Players say don't make a habit of it. Player report: one reply said "There's practically zero chance anything dangerous happens, but compressed air tanks should be sheltered from heat, moisture, and direct sunlight, particularly composite tanks." Another...
HPA Tank Cover: Do You Need One for a Pistol Rig?
You bought the tank, and now the shop wants another 25 bucks for a neoprene sleeve. An r/airsoft player asked "for a hpa tank, do i need a cover or something or can i just put it in a backpack?" Short answer: an HPA tank cover is optional. It protects the finish, not the tank's strength. Do you need an HPA tank cover? No. Player report: the replies in that thread were "Backpack is plenty" and "Just drop it in a backpack and call it a day." In an older r/paintball thread, one player said covers "dont really do much...