| Should I get a high pressure or low pressure N2 or | | | | HP tank with these guns to generate enough pressure |
| HPA tank for my paintball gun? | | | | to allow the gun to operate. So if you have a gun that |
| That's a good question. Let's get a few things straight | | | | needs 800 PSI to work and you hook up a 400 PSI LP |
| first. The terms "nitrogen tank" and "high pressure air" | | | | tank to it, you are not putting in enough pressure to |
| (HPA) tank mean the same thing. Fields and stores | | | | allow the gun to work. This is why you would need a |
| use compressed air to fill the tanks because air is | | | | high pressure tank. |
| more easily accessible. In the past, nitrogen was more | | | | Mid- to higher-end guns typically operate with less than |
| readily available to fields than more expensive | | | | 300 PSI input pressure and come with a high pressure |
| compressors. Today if you walk into a store and ask | | | | regulator. High pressure regulators go inline (in |
| for a nitro tank or a nitro fill they will know what you | | | | between) the tank and the gun. These regulators can |
| mean. | | | | accept an input pressure of up too 850 PSI and |
| Second, "high pressure" or "low pressure" refers to the | | | | regulate it down to a user-adjustable setting to meet |
| actual output pressure of the regulator on your tank. | | | | the markers' LP needs. LP guns can use LP tanks. |
| The regulator controls the pressure that your tank will | | | | Using an LP Tank with an LP gun will result in better |
| use in your gun. High pressure tanks usually output 800 | | | | shot consistency over the chrono because you are |
| to 850 PSI. Low Pressure tanks usually output 450 PSI. | | | | not putting as much stress on the inline high pressure |
| Preset tanks have a fixed output pressure from the | | | | regulator. Having an LP tank with an LP gun will also |
| factory which cannot be adjusted. Both HP and LP | | | | prevent or minimize hot shots if your inline regulator |
| tanks have preset outputs. Adjustable tanks like the | | | | fails. It will minimize the high pressure air spike going into |
| Nitroduck X-stream or the Empire Adjustable don't | | | | the gun which will typically cause your velocity to spike |
| have a fixed output pressure and can be adjusted by | | | | up as well. |
| the player to any output pressure they need. This | | | | So in short, if you have an HP gun or an LP gun with |
| article will focus on preset tanks because you can use | | | | an HP regulator, you can use an HP tank. LP guns can |
| adjustable tanks for any gun. | | | | also use an LP tank. Some guns, like the Angel Speed |
| Now is HP or LP right for your gun? There are a few | | | | 05, come with a built-in, inline LP regulator so they can |
| things to keep in mind when considering this. First, what | | | | only use LP tanks. As technology advances we are |
| pressure does your gun need to cycle and shoot a | | | | seeing more and more entry level guns becoming LP, |
| paintball? (This is called the operating pressure.) | | | | so it's always best to check with the manufacturer of |
| Tippmanns, Spyders and other entry level guns need | | | | your marker for their tank recommendations. And |
| 800 PSI or higher to operate, so you would need an | | | | never buy a new tank before you buy a new gun. |