Compressed Air vs. Co2: Advantages and Disadvantages of Each Type of Paintball Air

21 12 2010

Guerilla Air from Paintball-Online.comWhen you are shopping for new paintball guns, make sure you check out paintball gun reviews for user feedback and advice, and bear in mind that you will also have to consider the propulsion system of the guns you like.  Some guns are only compatible with specific types of air systems, and you will want to make sure you are aware of the pros and cons of each.  The two most common types are CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) and Compressed Air (also known as High Pressure Air or HPA).

CO2 was has been around the paintball world for a while and thus, it is typically less expensive and more readily available than Compressed Air.  You can purchase individual cartridges of CO2 or you can get a refillable tank.  CO2 tanks usually are smaller and lighter than HPA tanks.  However, unless you are playing in a consistently warm climate, you will have to consider that low temperatures cause the CO2 system’s performance to fluctuate and eventually freeze up.  Even if it’s warm outside, CO2 does not perform spectacularly in rapid-fire conditions.

This is a big part of why paintballers started looking for alternatives and found Compressed Air.  Most paintball gun reviews will tell you that Compressed Air is a better choice than CO2.  Compressed Air keeps a much more consistent pressure than CO2 , translating to improved accuracy and overall performance. However, it can be difficult to find places to refill Compressed Air tanks.  Additionally, Compressed Air systems are usually more expensive than their CO2 counterparts, and Compressed Air isn’t typically recommended for someone brand new to paintball.  Once you are ready to invest your time and money into being the best player you can be, then Compressed Air is an excellent option!


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What NOT to do when Playing Paintball

16 12 2010

Another DON'T: Don't break facility rules.

There are a ton of articles out there about how to play paintball well. They recommend superior paintball pistols, suggest winning tactics, and generally explain what to do to improve your game, but perhaps you’re more interested in knowing what NOT to do. Sometimes, you learn these things simply by doing them and reaping the consequences, though that seems to be the hard way—wouldn’t you rather just be told? Well, you’re in the right place—read on to discover our list of things NOT to do when playing paintball.

  • Don’t fire your paintball gun outside of the playing field.  There are safety areas and boundaries for a reason. Always respect them.
  • Don’t fire your paintball gun at targets less than 20 feet away.
  • Do not deliberately target someone’s head, face, or neck—or any other unprotected areas.
  • Don’t shoot hot.  Your paintball gun should be regulated to shoot at 300 fps (feet per second). If it shoots faster, your paintballs will cause extreme pain, and you may even get banned from the paintball facility. To check your gun’s shooting speed, use a radar chronograph, which you may purchase or find at most paintball facilities.
  • If possible, don’t go solo. You can learn a lot from other players, and frankly, a team of paintball markers is more powerful than one.
  • Don’t cheat.  Paintball is very much an honor game, where you call yourself out when you know you got hit.  Sure there are a few ways to cheat (such as wiping off paint) but doesn’t that defeat the purpose of the game?
  • Don’t be a sore loser.  Paintball isn’t a “one shot” game—ha, ha—you can play the same people over and over if you want.  So don’t ever get too serious when you lose.  Like cheating, it may make you feel better for a minute, but people will be much less likely to want to play with you if you behave this way.

In addition, you should carefully read and follow all facility rules. The number 1 don’t at most paintball fields is: DON’T take your mask off unless you’re in a protected area.

[photo: Top Rank Online Marketing]


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Paintball Gun Maintenance 101

14 12 2010
LAPCO Gray Ghost Marker from Paintball-Online

LAPCO Gray Ghost Marker

Whether you purchase super expensive or cheap paintball guns, ongoing maintenance is required to ensure your equipment continues to perform well. Regular cleaning  is a basic requirement for a well-maintained marker. Before disassembling your paintball gun, check the owner’s manual to see if the manufacturer includes specific cleaning instructions. Follow any guidelines they provide. If you have a paintball sniper rifle, you will need to perform maintenance checks before and after each game to make sure your rifle stays on point.  Even the smallest interference can cause problems for your sniper game.

The general rule for maintaining a paintball gun is that you must keep it clean and lubricated.  The gun manufacturer may have a recommendation for what to use to clean the gun, but you want to make sure you remove all paint, dirt, grit, and anything else that shouldn’t be there. While cleaning, make sure you are working on a clear surface–that way, if any pins or screws fall out, you’ll be able to grab them before they’re lost forever.

Even if you have a cheap paintball gun, you will want to keep it lubricated with a specially made product.  Don’t use anything made for actual firearms, as those formulas can cause major damage to a paintball marker.  You only need to use one or two drops of lubricant, but apply it regularly to ensure that the gun components stay well-oiled.  Once your paintball gun is clean and lubricated, reassemble it and find a safe spot to fire off a few blank rounds; this will blow out any leftover debris and dry out the gun’s interior.


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How to Customize your Paintball Gun

6 12 2010
An upgrades for one of the Tippmann Paintball Guns

Tippmann A5 Sniper Upgrade Kit

If you want to change the look of your stock paintball gun, you have numerous options for customization.  You can make simple changes, like painting the exterior of the gun, or you can purchase and add upgrade parts.

Should you own a Kingman Spyder paintball gun or one of the Tippmann paintball guns, you have quite a few upgrade options.  One of the easiest and most popular upgrades is adding an automatic loader to replace the stock elbow loader.  Attach your new automatic loader according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Another fairly easy option is to install a laser or non-laser (depending on your preference) scope or sight to your paintball gun.  Depending on the scope you purchase, you should be able to either glue the scope onto the top of your paintball gun, or install it with a scope rail.

The least expensive option is usually painting your marker. To paint your paintball gun, start by removing any loose parts and parts you do not want to paint.  Cover any fixed parts you don’t want to paint with paper and/or tape, and make sure any openings in the gun are also covered.  Then spray paint away, let the paint dry thoroughly, and reassemble the gun.

Beyond these basic upgrades, you can research customizations specifically for your marker. Depending on the manufacturer, there may be dozens of alterations available. For instance, in our online store we carry 215 parts and upgrades just for Tippmann paintball guns.


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Worst Places to Get Hit with a Paintball

1 12 2010
Paintball injury

Remember, the first four letters of "paintball" spell "pain."

The highest speed at which a paintball gun can legally shoot is 300 feet per second.  That’s over 200 miles an hour.  Though paintballs are designed to be soft enough to avoid causing permanent damage, a close range hit can still sting quite a bit.

Typically, getting hit with paintballs is the equivalent to a rough, sharp slap.  So, anywhere with a lot of nerves, where you don’t want to get “slapped” should be protected or covered with padding. Getting hit in the neck, hands, or other delicate areas can be especially painful.

It should go without saying that you should never play paintball unless you are wearing a mask or protective headgear.  The most potentially harmful places to take a paintball are the eye, the ear, and the throat.  For this reason, you should always wear protective gear that covers these areas, and never take off your headgear while you are playing.  In fact, do not take off your headgear until you and everyone around you has securely placed barrel covers on their paintball guns.

No matter where you are aiming your paint ball gun, for safety’s sake, you should never shoot someone that’s less than 20 feet from you. This is called “bunkering,” and most teams play with a “surrender rule,” meaning that whenever you’re closer than 20 feet to your opponent, you shout, “Surrender!” If they do surrender, they avoid the acute pain of taking a paintball at close range.

If you do end up getting hit in the face, ear, or throat, or if you are hit anywhere else and the pain does not subside in a couple of hours, you should immediately seek medical attention.

[photo: David Haberthur]


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Holiday Gifts for Paintballers

29 11 2010
Paintball Grenades from Paintball-Online.com

Deck the halls with paintball grenades...

The holidays are a great time to surprise a paintballer with gifts to supplement their current paintball gear.  Accessories and upgrades are a great option for gifts!

What player wouldn’t appreciate extra squeegees, gloves or protective gear?  These gifts show you really care about your paintballer’s safety, and the operability of his or her marker. There are plenty of options starting at less than $10 to get you going.

Paintballs are always a good old standby.  Every player needs them!  For a holiday gift, you could buy specialty paintballs or simply stock up on the basics.  These days, paintballs come in many different colors and styles, and start at under $25 per set, so you can purchase just the right ones for your player.

Kits and sets are also a good gift idea.  If you’re looking for a paintball machine gun look, there are plenty of sets that include such additions.  If the person you’re buying for is fairly new to paintball, a set may be a perfect way to get lots of starter gear at the same time.  There are beginners’ sets as well as more extensive kits, according to your budget.

If you’re buying for a seasoned paintballer, try a paintball grenade launcher! Grenade launchers have many tactical uses, such as taking out tanks and bunkers – or you can purchase a special type of paintball grenade launcher that can shoot a cluster of paintballs at one time, so you can take out several opponents at once!

Regardless of which item you ultimately choose, your favorite paintballer is sure to let loose with unbridled squeals of glee as he or she tosses away the wrapping to reveal yet more fuel for their obsession with the game.


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Stocking Stuffers for Paintballers

24 11 2010
Red Dot Site Paintball Accessory from Paintball-Online

A red dot site, to improve your favorite paintballer's aim.

Do you need some stocking stuffer ideas for the paintballer in your life?  Sometimes it can be tough to pick out small gifts, but have no fear.  There’s a bunch of compact, inexpensive paintball gear available that would be the perfect stocking surprise.  Here are some examples:

1. Paintballers can always use extra paintballs.  There are numerous options available for $50 or less, with a variety of colors and patterns to choose from.

2. Why not to drop a paintball pistol into your paintballer’s stocking?  These lightweight, pocket-sized markers are often used as a sidearm or back-up while reloading the main, larger marker. A paintball pistol makes a great addition to any paintballer’s arsenal.

3. Protective paintball clothing makes wonderful stocking stuffers.  For example, gloves, beanies, and headbands are great gifts.

4. Be practical: stuff your commonsensical paintballer’s stocking with safety accessories, such as a marker barrel tip. A small bottle of anti-fog goggle lens cleaner is also a good gift for the serious paintball player.

5. Ask your paintballer’s buddies what he’s been complaining about recently, and try to solve his issue. Or you might scrounge around in his gear area to see what he might be running low on. For instance, if you discover that he has a paintball pistol, it would make sense to stock up on pistol paintballs. Or, if he’s been aiming to improve his accuracy, you might  buy a red dot site, which can be attached to his marker so as to throw a red laser light on his targets.

With all stocking stuffers, keep in mind it’s usually okay if your paintballer already has one of something. Spare paintball gear is always appreciated, just in case the first one gets lost or misplaced. Happy Holidays and Happy ‘Balling!


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