| s very Important to Use Good Quality CO2 in your | | | | we determined to be the main cause of most of the |
| CO2 Powered Airguns. | | | | bad o-rings and valves we were seeing in the |
| Many of the air pistols and Real Action Markers | | | | airguns coming in for service. |
| serviced at our gun benches involve inoperable and | | | | Another issue we often have calls about is CO2 |
| clogged valves or deteriorated o-rings and seals. More | | | | leaks. The most common leak is caused by a CO2 |
| times than not, its evident that a lesser quality CO2 | | | | cylinder’s tip making a bad seal against an |
| cylinder was regularly used in these airguns and | | | | o-ring. CO2 cartridges are filled with liquid CO2 and |
| markers. The performance life of your CO2 | | | | then capped. There are at least three different styles |
| gun’s valve and seals depends heavily on the | | | | of caps and one may work better than another in |
| cleanliness of the CO2 you’re using as well as | | | | your CO2 gun. Take a close look at the valve where |
| the type of seal the cylinder createsagainst your | | | | your CO2 cartridge fits into the airgun. If the |
| airgun’s o-ring. Dirty CO2 can also cause | | | | cartridge simply presses against a seal, most of the |
| diminished velocities and equate to fewer shots per | | | | time any of the three will work. If your cartridge |
| cylinder. | | | | slides through an O-ring, you could experience leaks if |
| There are several brands of CO2 cylinders to choose | | | | you use the wrong kind of cylinder. Take a look at |
| from and without being able to see inside of | | | | the three CO2 cylinders in the picture. The cylinder |
| eachcylinder, it is impossible to know which brand or | | | | on the left is totally crimped on. The one in the |
| brands offer the cleanest CO2 and are of the best | | | | middle has a pressed on top that leaves a groove |
| quality.CO2 cartridges also come from various | | | | around the neck and the one on the right has a |
| manufacturers and countries, all of which have | | | | smooth neck. If your airgun has a slide-through o-ring, |
| differing standards of quality control. Each cylinder | | | | the style on the right is the only style of these three |
| has to conform to size, weight and temperature | | | | you should use. walther airgun CO2 cylinders are |
| threshold specifications, but there are no regulations | | | | produced in this fashion and the only kind we use in |
| governing the cleanliness of the CO2 or the cylinder, | | | | our airgun testing facility. |
| so it is hard to know which is the best without | | | | You will also notice in the picture that the dimensions |
| testing each and everyoneyou could go through | | | | of the neck and shoulder of the cylinders vary. We |
| several o-rings and destroy a valve or two before | | | | see many instances where leading brand cylinders |
| figuring out which is best. | | | | (the first and second cylinders from left) will not fit |
| Because of the number of bad seals and | | | | properly into an air pistol and then will not pierce |
| valves we were seeing, we cut open some Walther | | | | correctly due to incorrect dimensions. Do not apply |
| Umarex CO2 cylinders and some leading branded CO2 | | | | excessive force or use pliers to get these ill-shaped |
| cylinders. We were amazed at the difference. dirty | | | | cylinders in your airgun. Doing so could damage the |
| co2 valveThe leading brand had extraordinary | | | | gun’s frame and/or puncture assembly. |
| amounts of oil and grit lining the walls of the | | | | One final tip to consider, and the easiest to do, |
| cylinder.The Walther CO2 cylinder was absolutely | | | | always put a drop of RWS Chamber Lube on the tip |
| clean. The color, texture, and smell of the grime in | | | | of each CO2 cylinder before installing it. Doing this will |
| the leading brand cylinder was consistent with what | | | | extend the life of your valves and o-rings and can |
| we were seeing on our gunsmith bench and is what | | | | prevent leaks. |