| Paintballs are gelatin capsules filled with a water-soluble | | | | gun, even if your barrel bore is .68. An easy test to |
| marking dye. The dye inside is non-toxic, meaning that | | | | see if a paintball will work in your gun is to put the ball |
| if you swallow it, it will not hurt you. However, the taste | | | | in one end of the barrel. If it rolls out on its own, it is too |
| is not very pleasant. | | | | small. It is a good fit if you can easily blow it out of the |
| Paintballs are manufactured by many different | | | | barrel. If you cannot easily blow it out, it is too big. |
| companies. As with most things, paintballs can be | | | | When choosing the color of your paintballs, it is |
| either low quality, or high quality. Of course, paintballs | | | | necessary to consider the playing environment. If you |
| also come in a variety of colors. Paintballs can also be | | | | are playing in the woods, bright colors may be |
| bought in many different quantities, with just as many | | | | preferred, as it is easier to see the paint. Some |
| variations of prices. | | | | paintballs glow in the dark. If you are playing at night, |
| Most paintball fields require you to purchase and use | | | | this may be what you want. |
| their paint. This is how they make their money. | | | | A few brands of paintballs that are made for cold |
| Therefore, in most cases, brand and quality of the | | | | weather playing. They are designed for better |
| paint will not be deciding factors. | | | | performance during the winter months. |
| The best way to determine which brand/quantity | | | | Occasionally, paintballs will break inside the barrel of |
| quality of paintballs you should buy is to know how you | | | | your gun. If this is happening on a regular basis, there |
| will be using those paintballs. If you are using the | | | | may be a problem. It could be the gun. You may have |
| paintballs for practice, you naturally will want to go with | | | | your velocity set to high. The ideal setting for your |
| the cheapest paintballs. Quality will not matter much in | | | | guns velocity is about 280. You may also bust balls in |
| this instance. | | | | the barrel if you do not keep it clean. Having too much |
| If you will be using the paintballs for rec-ball, again, | | | | oil or not enough oil in the barrel can also cause the |
| quality is not quite as important, and you may want to | | | | paintballs to break. Often, too much air pressure, or |
| go with the cheapest price. However, if you will be | | | | uneven air pressure, can cause the paintballs to break. |
| using the paintballs for tournament play, quality matters | | | | If the problem is not the gun, it is the paintballs. The |
| a great deal. You want paintballs that will not break | | | | most common problem will be the size of the paintballs |
| easily inside your gun or in transit. At the same time, | | | | you are using. Try using a smaller size. Dirty paintballs |
| you do want paintballs that will break easily when they | | | | can also cause them to break. If your paintball hits the |
| hit an opponent. Many tournaments will require you to | | | | ground, do not use it in your gun. Take the loss. |
| use the paint that they are selling. Tournament grade | | | | Cheaper paint breaks more often than quality paint. |
| balls tend to be resistant to "wiping", meaning that the | | | | Old paint breaks more often than new paint. Extreme |
| paint is harder to wipe off. This discourages cheating. | | | | temperatures also have an effect on your paint. |
| You must also purchase the right size paintballs for | | | | Unless your paint is especially made for cold |
| your gun. Paintballs sizes are measured in calibers. The | | | | temperatures, avoid using it or storing it in such |
| most common caliber of the barrel on a paint gun is | | | | conditions. High humidity can also cause problems, by |
| .68. However, it is important that you check the | | | | weakening and warping the paintballs. You should |
| documentation that comes with your gun to make | | | | throw out paintballs that you have had for three or |
| sure you know the correct caliber of your gun's barrel, | | | | more months. Paint may also break if you are shooting |
| therefore enabling you to purchase the correct caliber | | | | the gun faster than what your hopper can manage. |
| paintballs. | | | | This is called over shooting the feed. |
| Both paintballs and paint ball gun barrels range in sizes | | | | When storing your paintballs, keep this in mind. Higher |
| from .67 to .71 calibers. Just because your gun requires | | | | quality paintballs last longer than low quality when kept |
| a .68 caliber paintball, does not necessarily mean that | | | | in storage. You will need to store your paintballs in a |
| this is the best caliber for your gun. Paintballs are not | | | | dry area where the temperature does not vary too |
| perfectly round. You will need to experiment with | | | | much. Store paintballs in a sealed container or bag to |
| different sizes, close to the caliber your gun calls for. It | | | | keep dust and dirt out. |
| may be that a .67 caliber paintball works best in your | | | | |