| Since 1981, paintball players have been | | | | Compressed air, on the other hand, is a much |
| shooting each other with marble-sized pellets | | | | more stable propellant source for a paintball |
| of paint using a special gun called a marker. | | | | marker. While temperature changes can alter |
| Players launch their paint pellets by | | | | the pressure inside a carbon dioxide tank and |
| pressing a trigger that releases compressed | | | | drastically impact the performance of a |
| air or gas to propel the paintball out of the | | | | marker, external temperatures do not affect |
| marker towards the target. New paintball | | | | compressed air tanks. The performance of |
| players unfamiliar with their equipment have | | | | compressed air tanks and their ability to |
| always had questions about whether compressed | | | | produce a consistent stable pressure is |
| air offers an advantage over carbon dioxide | | | | consistent in any climate. Its also cleaner |
| (CO2). Is compressed air really better than | | | | than carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide can |
| carbon dioxide? To put it simply, YES! | | | | contain dust and dirt that will clog air |
| | | | paths and valves in your marker. Compressed |
| Inside your paintball tank, carbon dioxide is | | | | air is typically very clean. Most compressors |
| primarily in liquid form. As the carbon | | | | used to fill compressed air tanks are |
| dioxide expands, the liquid turns into gas. | | | | S.C.U.B.A. compressors with air filters that |
| In its expanded gas state, carbon dioxide can | | | | produce grade E breathing air. If its safe |
| serve as a stable pressure that will enable | | | | enough to breathe, its safe enough for your |
| your gun to propel paintballs. Liquid carbon | | | | paintball gun! |
| dioxide, however, can have a devastating | | | | |
| effect on your guns performance. The presence | | | | In addition to its stability, compressed air |
| of liquid carbon dioxide inside a paintball | | | | is cheaper than carbon dioxide, and the price |
| marker can freeze the guns inner seals and | | | | continues to fall. Many paintball facilities |
| cause cracks and leaking. Carbon dioxide is | | | | are moving exclusively to compressed air |
| unreliable because its sensitive to outside | | | | rental equipment, and carbon dioxide |
| temperatures and the velocity with which you | | | | paintball products will eventually be |
| shoot. The faster you shoot, the colder your | | | | obsolete. Given the performance differences |
| tank will get, decreasing the likelihood of | | | | between carbon dioxide and compressed air |
| carbon dioxide converting from liquid to gas, | | | | markers, the industry is clearly heading in |
| and thus increasing the chance of liquid CO2 | | | | the direction of compressed air. You can no |
| entering your marker. | | | | longer afford to use carbon dioxide |
| | | | equipmentswitch to compressed air now! |