TargetTalk

Given the recent rules change about shooting with out of date cylinders, I was wondering if anyone is going to get set up to hydrotest & re-certify cylinders.

If you have an older air pistol (like a Hammerli 480K), you can't get new cylinders. Even if you could find "new" ones, the expiration date is based on when they were made, not when they were put in service. Your only option is to replace the entire air pistol, which is an incredible waste. I would think getting your cylinders tested & re-certified would be a very good sideline for someone.

One issue is the exact wording of the rules. If they go exclusively on the manufacturing date, a change to the rules would be required to allow re-certification.

Just a thought...

An excellent idea!

A better one would be to get rid of the stupid rule!

See rule 6.7.7.1 d

Rule 6.2.4.2 seems pretty benign:

"It is the athlete’s responsibility that any air or CO2 cylinder is still within its validity date. This must be checked by Equipment Control."

However, Rule 6.7.7.1 d is a total crock:

"It is the athlete’s responsibility that any air or CO2 cylinder is within manufacturer’s validity date (maximum of ten (10) years); this may be checked by Equipment Control and advisory recommendations may be given;"

This is especially bogus considering that many older cylinders are clearly marked by the manufacturer as being good for 20 years.

The bottom line is that the rules would have to be changed to allow re-certification.

If someone is competing at the Olympic level with the latest equipment, this is probably just a minor annoyance. However, it means that many beginners who don't have deep pockets will be stuck. It also gets into liability issues. If you are running a junior program on a limited budget, you pretty much have to work with 2nd hand gear. If there is no way to re-certify older cylinders, you have to decide if the risk of an accident is low enough to continue to use "out of date" equipment.

Gwhite wrote:If there is no way to re-certify older cylinders, you have to decide if the risk of an accident is low enough to continue to use "out of date" equipment.

As has always been the case.

True, but because PCP's are a relatively "recent" invention, the issue is becoming more critical now. Early PCP cylinders with a 20 year expiration are about to fall off the "cliff" in the near future, if they haven't already.

CO2 guns are in the same boat, although because they operate at 1/3rd the pressure, the risk should be much lower.

Gwhite wrote:True, but because PCP's are a relatively "recent" invention, the issue is becoming more critical now. Early PCP cylinders with a 20 year expiration are about to fall off the "cliff" in the near future, if they haven't already.

Sorry, I got the impression (obviously wrongly) that you were implying this was an effect of the new ISSF rules.

As I read them, and I could of course be wrong, if your cylinder is over 10 years old you may be given "advisory recommendations".

Hardly something to get worked up about IMHO.

It's really two issues. One is: what happens if you show up at an ISSF match with an expired cylinder? The other is: what will be the impact on beginning shooters & programs when used equipment is no longer legally deemed "safe"?

Both could be alleviated by the existence of an affordable re-certification process for cylinders.

I had heard (on this forum) that some shooters were refused entry to some European matches.

I'm not aware of this happening in the US, but it may only be due to my ignorance.

Rover wrote:I had heard (on this forum) that some shooters were refused entry to some European matches.

I believe that would probably have been in Germany, due to local regulations not ISSF rules.