extending seal life in CO2 handguns

[stonebuster]

The Achilles heel in CO2 handguns seems to be the seals. Other than using Pelloil on CO2 cartridge, not over tightening and not leaving cartridges in the gun when not using it, are there other ways to prolong seal life? I recently read to use the same manufacturers co2 cartridges all the time. Is it detrimental to use the gun outdoors when temps are below freezing? Generally, are the seals in a $300 air gun better and last longer than a <$100 gun? I'm pretty new to the air gun scene.

 

[Kookla]

I think they are just a part that can wear out and gets replaced as part of regular maintenance. I believe regular use of a c02 air gun is best for it. Keeps the seals oiled and exercised so to speak.

 

[Panzerschwein]

According to the net, the average lifespan of a seal is about 30 years. You should have no problems for quite so time. Not sure what this has to do with air guns, though??

 

[stonebuster]

According to the net, the average lifespan of a seal is about 30 years. You should have no problems for quite so time. Not sure what this has to do with air guns, though??

View attachment 776869

Thanks for the laugh. I knew when I posted I was going to get some seal jokes. Teaching them not to swim with sharks will also extend a seal's life.

 

[Kookla]

Temps below 40 degrees affect c02. You can read about it in brief here at Pyramyd Blog . Just a heads up, Tom Gaylord, the author of the blog there has a lot of great information written.

What airgun are you looking at? What's your intended use for it?

 

[stonebuster]

Just backyard plinking when I can't go to the range or want to curb my spending on ammo and scratch my itch to shoot. The first one I got was a very inexpensive Crosman semi auto bb just to see if I'd like it but it only lasted a month before the seal failed. Since I own several 357 revolvers I bought a Crosman 357SNR and shot about 1000 rounds with it without any problems. I just picked up it's big brother the 357SR today. I like the all metal construction, swing out cylinder, adjustable sights, extractor and loading it like a regular revolver. Since I'm new to air handguns, I wanted to make sure I wasn't doing anything to cause premature failure of the seals. Of course these aren't high end air guns and the triggers are pretty rough but they're a lot of fun. I've been lurking around here trying to learn what I might want to get in the future if I decide to step up in quality. Right now I'm able to justify my air gun purchases since in one or two trips to the range I spend that much on ammo. Thanks for the heads up to the link.