Airgun cylinder test dates — clearing the air (and our policy on fills)

Recently, a post on The Airgun Factor Facebook group kicked off a debate after a shooter was told his cylinder now needed testing every 2.5 years. That sounded confusing (and expensive), and it’s not surprising people started asking questions. To make sure we had the facts straight, we reached out directly to MDE — the UK’s leading supplier of air cylinders and valves to both the dive and airgun industry. They confirmed some of the confusion comes from how new IDEST guidance is interpreted by test centres.

You can read the official IDEST bulletin here:👉 https://www.idest.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IDEST-Torque-2025-2-June-2025.pdf

The Short Version (So You Don’t Have to Read the PDF)

• Scuba cylinder + scuba valve → 2.5-year visual inspection (by an IDEST-accredited centre) and a 5-year hydro.

• Scuba cylinder + non-scuba valve (e.g. MDE Jubilee M25) → surface use only → 5-year hydro.

• Non-scuba cylinder + non-scuba valve → 5-year hydro.

• 10-year hydro → Only applies to certain industrial cylinders in controlled commercial settings (not hobby use).

The important bit: if your cylinder is fitted with an MDE Jubilee M25 valve, you have written proof that it’s a surface-use cylinder. That means no 2.5-year inspection requirement — just the standard 5-year hydro. Other valves (Bisley, Apek, Hyrotech, etc.) aren’t specifically named in the same way, which can cause headaches at certain fill stations.

MDE Jubilee Valve on a M25 300 BAR bottle

Proof of bottleneck size, dont fall for the smaller, older and outdated versions

Why Moisture and Fill Quality Matter

One of the main reasons IDEST recommend shorter intervals is contamination — cylinders filled with wet air are failing sooner.

5-Year-old Carbon Composite Cylinder after being filled with wet air

This comes from:

• Cheap compressors with no moisture filtration

• Stirrup pumps without dry packs

• Assumptions like “it’s just for airguns, so dry air doesn’t matter”

Wrong. It always matters. Moisture causes corrosion, especially in steel, and can even wreck composites.

Our recommendation:

• Use a Bauer compressor with a dry system

• Or a Hill EVO with Dry-Pac Pro

• If you insist on using budget compressors or stirrup pumps, fit a dry pack or accept the risk.

Our Fill Policy at Vector Air

We keep it simple. For 300 BAR fills using our professional BAUER compressor (in-store only):

✔ 300 BAR rated cylinder

✔ DIN 300 valve (7 full turns/threads) — no DIN 200 or A-Clamp/INT valves

✔ In-date hydro test (must be within 5 years)

✔ No visible damage (cracks, dents, corrosion, etc.)

✔ No DIY modifications — only certified parts and accessories

Every tank is inspected before filling. If it looks dodgy, it doesn’t get filled.

For HPA airsoft bottles:

• Must be in test

• Must use a male Foster quick-connect

• We do not fill via paintball-style thread fittings

Out-of-Test Fills: Don’t Even Ask

Yes, we know there are shops that’ll do it. We’re not one of them. We won’t fill out-of-test tanks, and we won’t help you find someone that will. If you’re determined to cut corners, you can do the legwork yourself.

👉 Don’t be cheap. Don’t be reckless. Cheap tanks and lazy fills cause accidents.

Why We’re Strict

We’ve already had too many close calls. One of our gunsmiths ended up in hospital after a gauge blew up in his hand — and that was with a customer’s cylinder. This is why our rules exist, and why we stick to them.

The Bottom Line

• If your tank has an MDE Jubilee M25 valve → you’re covered under the 5-year test rule (no 2.5-year inspection).

• If your tank uses scuba hardware → expect the 2.5-year inspection + 5-year hydro cycle.

• If your tank looks cheap, nasty, or is out of test → don’t even bring it in.

We will only fill safe, certified, in-test cylinders. Full stop.

If you’re shopping for a tank, read this first:👉 The Fun (and Informative) Guide to Buying a PCP Airgun Tank

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