Regulator?

[*KOMA*]

So my minimag sucks CO2 like a... well you know. Someone suggested getting a regulator to replace my expansion chamber. I've never heard of putting one on a mag. Now, the 2 that have been suggested are the Bob Long Torpedo and the AKA sidewinder. I was hoping for some advice...on the reg that is.

[dyeforever]

dont put a reg on ur mag. mag already have a reg(that the main part of the gun) if u wanna get more consistent switch over to compressed air if u cant, get a better expasion chamber.

[alouba]

don't buy a reg
buy a better expansion chamber, anti=-iphon your tank OR get a remote

[*KOMA*]

Ok, so what would be a high end{performace wise} expansion chamber?

[BlackHalo]

Regulator for CO2

Get the Palmer's Stabilizer and an anti-siphon.

Best setup for CO2. Set the Stabe for around 600 (or just under)

PS - currently you're single regging your mag...getting HPA means you're double regging. Properly double reg CO2 and you can get similar consistencies to a HPA setup.

Just a snippet from http://www.palmer-pursuit.com/FAQ/stabfaq.htm :

I have read that a remote acts as an expansion chamber, also I have read that you should not place an expansion chamber downstream from a regulator as chilled co2 will warm up and expand an increase PSI. Wouldn't this make the stabilizer less effective if I use it attached right off of the remote?

Personally, I do not advocate the use of an expansion chamber at all. I prefer to use a tank that is filled to about 10-15% less than stated capacity. A slightly larger gaseous area will be had by the use of a remote setup, but the actual effectiveness of it is ambiguous, at best. This is another concept that is very difficult to explain but it boils down to the fact that CO2 requires a certain amount of pressurized gas as a "cap" to keep the liquid in a stable state. All an expansion chamber can really do is provide enough room to compensate for what is needed. The best way that I know to explain the relationship of pressure and volume/capacity is show the static pressures of a tank that contains different amounts of liquid CO2. This example is for a 20 oz. tank at 72 degrees F. ( the numbers shown are approximates but close enough to demonstrate the diminishing pressure curve as it relates to the fill state of the tank)

amount of liquid CO2 in a 20oz tank pressure

21 oz 1150 psi+
20 oz 950 psi
19 oz 875 psi
17 oz 825 psi
15 oz 815 psi
12 oz 810 psi
6 oz 805 psi
2 oz 800 psi
Note the diminishing pressure variance as the actual volume in the tank is reduced. There is one thing about CO2 that is very consistent and that is change. However, the changes are very consistent and very predictable. The trick to the effective use of CO2 is to be aware of what is going on and to operate within the nature of things.

An Expansion chamber can over expand the CO2 and reduce the saturation of liquid within the gas. So when you fire the ball, the gas has less potential energy when released. Therefore you must use more volume of gas with an expansion chamber. Another problem with expansion chamber is that once they fill up with liquid it's no longer an expansion chamber. Once Co2 is regulated under 600 psi it can no longer remain a liquid. Most remotes have a small hole, so they don't expand the gas too much.

A Stabilizer out performs an expansion chamber simply because it regulates the pressure within the marker. If you can keep the pressure consistent your velocity will be more consistent. Consistency equals accuracy. The Stabilizers also have a 70-1 ratio. So if your input pressure changes 70 psi your regulated output will only change 1 psi. Most other regs only have 30-1 ratio. So in short an expansion chamber is nothing more than a waist of gas.