Gutting X Chamber

[Aslan]

I read a post on here about using an expansion chamber. The general consensus is that all the expansion chamber does is lower the pressure eventually getting to your valve and is actually detrimental to performance.

I have an ANS Phase II expansion chamber and was thinking of using it if I ever buy myself a minimag. It is a great size and feel for a foregrip. One post talked about "gutting" the expansion chamber and just using it like that.

Lets say I can get all of the internals out without a problem. Is it safe to use a hollow expansion chamber as essentially a gas-thru? My worry is that the expansion chamber isn't meant to be used as a "second tank" and when you fill an entire foregrip/X chamber up with air that it might burst.

Any thoughts? I hate to just throw it out, it's a nice wide expansion chamber...would look great on a Mag.

[11 Bravo]

Doesnt it have the same pressure inside it wether its gutted or not? I dont see any problem.

[athomas]

Expansion chambers don't change the pressure. They are basically a straight through line with additional surface area via fins. The additional surface area helps the outside ambiant air heat the CO2 to maintain it in a gaseous state. The different chambers within various expansion chambers, can restrict flow due to the nature of how they are ported. The flowing CO2 is forced through holes. The increase in velocity causes the CO2 to condensate in the expansion chamber before it ever hits the gun. It can then pick up additional heat which puts it back into a gas and helps it maintain its gaseous state after the expansion chamber.

Removing the internal chambers of an expansion chamber will help reduce air flow restriction if you can get them out. You will have a reservoir of air in your chamber during use though. The amount of air will depend on the volume of your empty expansion chamber. If you put your air tank on and off your gun, you will lose more air than a straight air line or gas through grip.

[fshrmn76]

i asked this question about 6 months ago. the answers i got were the same. right now im running an ACI subzero expansion chamber without the guts and haven't had any problems. even taking the tank off i don't think i get any more air loss than i would have with CO2.

[Aslan]

But does it decrease the performance of the gun? For example, if an expansion chamber restricts the airflow...wouldn't having to fill up a big expansion chamber also restrict air flow? Maybe not.

I think I might try it. I'll take both of the alluminum parts out, put the bolt back in, and see what happens. Hopefully I can tighten the bolt enough. I don't have a vice and was having trouble tightening it with wrenshes without scratching the crud out of the surface I was putting the wrench to.

[11 Bravo]

I dont think it would restrict airflow.
example:
The A5 lp kit has to have a volumizer (same as expansion chamber) or it does not get enough air flow to operate the gun correctly. Without the volumizer the gun wont work correctly.

[athomas]

Volumizers provide a larger volume of air readily available to prevent starvation due to line restrictions. The gutted expansion chamber will be a larger volume of air as well. The pressure will be the same so no performance issues will be noticed. The only downfall, is the volume of air that is wasted when you remove your air source.

[Aslan]

Great

Volumizers provide a larger volume of air readily available to prevent starvation due to line restrictions. The gutted expansion chamber will be a larger volume of air as well. The pressure will be the same so no performance issues will be noticed. The only downfall, is the volume of air that is wasted when you remove your air source.

[email protected] what I need...more air inefficiency...more than a standard mag...more than the level X...I need like a 200cui 8800psi tank or something.