How do I choose between a hand pump and a compressor for filling my PCP?

It comes down to fill volume and patience.

A hand pump (roughly $60-230) works well for guns with small cylinders and pressures under 3,000 psi, but filling from empty can take hundreds of strokes and real effort past 3,000 psi. A portable compressor ($250-700) fills a gun in minutes and runs off AC or a car battery, while shop-class and dive-grade units ($700+) can fill large carbon-fiber tanks. Our Compressor Directory lists every current option with verified specs and estimated fill times derived from real benchmarks, so you can compare a specific pump against a specific compressor for your cylinder size before spending anything.