Low Pressure

[Phsycopath]

I have heard that low pressure is less gas efficient but is there anyway to have low pressure and be gas efficient?

[athomas]

Somewhere, there is the ideal pressure vs ideal barrel length. It may be low pressure, but but for it to work efficiently, the pressure must be instantly available behind the ball when the gun is fired. That's the problem encountered by most LP guns now. There are slight restrictions between the chamber and the area behind the ball. Any restriction means that the pressure builds up behind the ball rather than becoming instantly available. Low pressure guns, therefore, must maintain an air supply longer to maintain air flow behind the ball.

LP guns are becoming more efficient as companies are developing ways to improve air flow.

[milf350]

It depends which markers you talk about also, some of the low pressure guns made were made just to take advantage of the LP hype, markers such as the Shocker and Matrix are examples. But guns like AKA Viking & Excalibur run at 140-180 psi and get 1900 - 2400 shots out of a 60/45. Some cockers run as low as 120 psi getting over a case out a 68/45. It's all really in the design of the marker, if it allows a high enough volume to flow in the same amount of time as it would take a higher pressure to do so then it will be efficient.

[steveg]

It depends which markers you talk about also, some of the low pressure guns made were made just to take advantage of the LP hype, markers such as the Shocker and Matrix are examples.

the matrix and the shocker ended up being low pressure
just because there are no mini solenoids that can handle
greater than 200psi. the original non electo matrix had
an operating pressure of about 400psi

The matrix has only been out for 2 years and people are
already finding ways to improve efficiency (the bolt kit
doesn't count it fixed a VERY obvious design mistake, and
is now standard on new matrix)

[ezrunner]

the aka guns have very well
engineered flow paths so
that only the amount of air
needed to fire the ball has
to be used.

if you have a convoluted flow
path then the low pressure has
to be maintained longer
so that the pressure behind
the ball is enough to fire it.

The bushmaster and the aka guns
are very lp and very efficient.
The bushmaster needs some help
to get there, but the aka's
come that way.

I can easily shoot a half case
of paint (I walk on the field
for a tourney w/ 1040 balls)
from a 68/3000 from either the
aka merlin or bushmaster I own.

-rob

[athomas]

Exactly, a well engineered flow path and you get a low pressure, efficient design. Efficiency here is the delivery of air to the ball.

Effectiveness is a little different. A lot of the hype of a low pressure gun is the bolt pressure and behind the ball pressure. Almost all guns are low pressure when measuring the behind the ball pressure. Many are low nowdays when measuring the bolt pressure.

The big problem low pressure guns are having now, is the ability to recharge from the air regulators so they can fire at high rates. This is the one place many are failing. Rapid firing causes velocity inconsistencies. Good air flow is even more critical here.