SCUBA Refills
I just dropped the coin on Strider’s used rig, a TSS with SCUBA tank. I know enough to know I won’t be getting as many fills with it as I would off of 4500psi, so I’m learning about my options locally for refilling my tank. Will I likely be satisfied with this set-up, if I shoot a couple of hundred rounds a week? I recognize the dynamics at play, but realistically, how often might I have to refill the SCUBA tank?
I paid the dive shop a visit, discussed hydro and VIP on the tank, got a price of $37 bux and about 4 or 5 days turnaround. Sounded kinda steep and a long wait. Then he sweetened the deal: free air. Ok, that’s not bad, just drop it off any time I need air. Ok, not bad. But then he points to a sign in the shop that said something like Adopt-A-Tank. Ok, what gives? He said that if I donate my tank to him, he’d wave the fee for hydro and VIP. When I need a tank, come pick one up and sign it out. Bring it back when I’m done and get another when I need it. Never pay for air or for hydro/vip again. I can live with not having a tank for a few days during the week when I’d be less apt to need it. I’d just pick one up on Friday for the weekend and return it Monday after i’d charged my Talon tank for any mid-week targets of opportunity that may present themselves. He’ll even fill my Talon tank for free. In fact, I mentioned that I’m not gonna be able to shoot my gun until he hydro’s my tank, and he offered to loan me a tank till then, and fill my talon tank on the spot, to boot.
I guess my question is this: Is this a good arrangement? Any downside that you can see? It looks like a pretty good deal, considering he’s 2 minutes from work.
I can’t WAIT to get into the game. Hurry up Mr.Mail Man!
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4-5 days is not bad for Hydro turn around, very few, if any dive shops do this in house.
You can go straight to the hydro facility and pay around $20 for the hydro, but then the dive shop will likely hit you up for the VIP to the tune of about $15.
For free air, I say pay for the Hydro and VIP and shoot away.
Rusty
Down side is if they run out of tanks and you cant get one. I would just pay to have it hydroed. It cost me like $40 to have mine done and they replace stuff in the valve also. But if the arrangement works the way he said then it might be nice until they change owners or go out of buisness…LOL then your tankless. If you got a good deal on the tank then you might as well save yourself the $40 and just try the arrangement. Weight it against the worst case scenario. How long will you be able to use their program? It works out for a few years then it might be good. You can alway buy another tank later if the adopt a tank goes down the toilet at some point.
I used a scuba tank for years without problem. It is not a big deal if you can get a fill nearby and dont mind shooting at less then maximum velocities.
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Wouldn’t it be like the propane tank arrangement at say Chevron…? You get to keep a tank then turn it in for another when empty, you should always have a tank at home, one fill will not get you through 5 days of indoor shooting and messing about…
Something about this seems overcomplicated and what do you gain until you fill your tank enough times to equal it’s value…? 😯 😕
The one downside is if you never get $150 worth of air and now you don’t have a tank…
If your going to get another tank then you would have to pay or donate so where do you end up gaining anything… I understand the first 5 days may be an issue but after that you will not have a tank anymore and you will have to keep switching your fill nipple to different tanks…
I don’t know, equal pros and cons…
Sorry I couldn’t be too much help! 😉