| Okay, so you bought your first paintball gun. Now | | | | $15 up to $35 but once you buy it - you own it and |
| what? In order for you to use your new paintball | | | | can re-fill it as many times as you need. Output |
| marker you will need a few other items: approved | | | | pressure on most CO2 tanks is approximately 800psi. |
| safety goggles, paintballs, and a tank. Here is where | | | | HPA Tanks (3000-4500psi): |
| many new players get confused and may make the | | | | HPA stands for High Pressure Air. This is the newest |
| wrong decision. Which paintball tank should I buy and | | | | and best source of power for most paintball guns that |
| which one is best for my paintball marker? | | | | are equipped to use this type of air. As with CO2 and |
| In general, there are three main power sources for | | | | any other gas always consult your owner's manual for |
| paintball guns: | | | | proper use of your paintball gun. HPA is basically |
| 1) CO2 cartridges (disposable) | | | | compressed air. Yes, air. Just like the air you breathe |
| 2) CO2 tanks (re-usable) | | | | every day. Also, HPA can mean Nitrogen. When high |
| 3) HPA tanks (re-usable) | | | | pressure paintball tanks were first introduced and even |
| First, let's go over some "lingo" that you may need to | | | | today, many are filled with compressed Nitrogen. |
| know.... | | | | Although the recommended source of gas in the HPA |
| CO2 - carbon dioxide gas | | | | tanks is compressed air, compressed nitrogen will |
| HPA - high pressure air (compressed air or | | | | work in most cases. |
| compressed nitrogen)psi - pressure measured in | | | | HPA tanks offer a cleaner source of air at a much |
| pounds per square inchci or cu - cubic inch when | | | | higher pressure. HPA air is not affected by temp as |
| referred to the size of a tank and volume it can holdoz | | | | much as a CO2 tank. HPA air is much more |
| - ounce, used to denote the size of paintball tanks and | | | | consistent and will provide very little change from shot |
| weight they can hold (9oz, 12oz, 20oz, etc...) | | | | to shot. Virtually every shot thru your paintball gun with |
| Each type has its own advantages and | | | | compressed air will be identical. HPA is commonly |
| disadvantages, different costs, and applications. Here | | | | used in many tournament style paintball guns such as |
| we will try to explain the major differences and offer | | | | the Invert Mini, DP G3, Dye DM series, Angels, |
| some insight on which one might be best for you. | | | | AutoMags, AutoCockers, and the likewise. HPA can |
| Disposable CO2 Cartridges (12 gram): | | | | also be used in many other types of guns as well, |
| Very few paintball guns use the smaller 12 gram | | | | such as: most Tippmann and most Kingman guns. |
| cartridges, however, they are still found on some | | | | Again, please consult your owner's manual for the |
| models. Typically the 12 gram cartridges are a single | | | | exact needs of your specific paintball gun. |
| use design and the cartridge is disposed of when the | | | | One important note about HPA - different paintball |
| gas is depleted. Most 12g cartridges offer the user only | | | | guns require different amounts of pressure to operate |
| 16-30 shots, depending on the type of paintball gun, | | | | properly and different HPA tanks can output the |
| before they are empty. There are different sizes of | | | | pressure inside differently. Typically there are high |
| the disposable cartridges other than the 12g version, | | | | output HPA tanks and low output HPA tanks. The high |
| but they are less common and maybe harder to find. | | | | output tanks are approx 800-850psi, while the low |
| The use of a disposable cartridge may require a | | | | output tanks can range from 200-450psi. Some |
| special adaptor to be added to your paintball gun as | | | | paintball markers require the full 800psi to operate |
| many of them do not simply "screw" directly to the | | | | correctly, while other guns need only 200-300psi to |
| marker like the other types of tanks. The advantage | | | | operate. Again, check your gun to see what is |
| of the disposable CO2 cartridges is their small size and | | | | recommended. If your gun needs 800psi to operate |
| light weight. They are also very easy to carry. The | | | | and you have a low output HPA tank then ... your gun |
| disadvantage is their low number of shots per use and | | | | will not fire! HPA tanks are also available in different |
| the fact that they are not able to be re-filled and must | | | | sizes. There are 3000psi tanks and 4500psi tanks. The |
| be disposed of when used. In the long run they are | | | | psi rating (psi = amount of pressure in pounds per |
| also not cost effective when compared to the other | | | | square inch) of the tank does not indicate the output |
| types of paintball tanks. | | | | pressure but rather just the amount of pressure the |
| CO2 Tanks (9oz, 12oz, 20oz, etc...): | | | | tank can hold. Within each pressure rating there can |
| CO2 tanks are the most common form of supplying | | | | be many different sizes of tanks (45ci, 62ci, 68ci, 72ci, |
| gas to your paintball gun. CO2 is also one of the least | | | | etc...). This rating determines the amount of gas, or |
| expensive and most readily available forms of gas | | | | volume, the HPA tank can hold. The higher the volume, |
| power. CO2 tanks come in several different sizes | | | | the more shots per tank you will get. Like with CO2 |
| such as 7oz, 9oz, 12oz, 16oz, 20oz, and 24oz. The | | | | tanks, HPA tanks are able to be re-filled at many |
| three most common sizes are the 9oz, 12oz, and 20oz | | | | paintball shops and fields, however, HPA is not as |
| tanks. As a general rule of thumb the 9oz tank will | | | | common as CO2 and may or may not be available in |
| yield approximately 500-600 shots. The 12oz tank will | | | | all areas. |
| yield approximately 700-800 shots, and the 20oz tank | | | | The cost to fill your HPA tank can range from $3.00 to |
| will offer around 1000-1200 shots. | | | | $10.00 depending on the shop, however, the equipment |
| The advantage to the CO2 tanks is the fact that can | | | | needed to fill HPA tanks is very expensive and many |
| be re-filled at most paintball shops and fields and the | | | | smaller paintball shops do not own the equipment - so |
| cost is usually between $4.00 to $7.00 for a fill. When | | | | before you buy an HPA tank make some phone calls |
| your tank runs out you simply take it to a paintball shop | | | | and see if you can get your HPA tank filled in your |
| and get it re-filled. The re-fill time is less than 1 minute. | | | | area. HPA tanks can range in price from $65 up to |
| The disadvantage of the CO2 tank is that the liquid | | | | $259 and can be made from aluminum, carbon fiber, |
| inside the tank can affect the performance of your | | | | fiberglass, and/or other composite materials. If your |
| paintball gun in a negative way. If the tank gets too hot | | | | local shop cannot fill your HPA tank then you may be |
| the gas can escape thru a blow-out valve leaving you | | | | able to get a SCUBA tank at a dive shop and fill your |
| with any empty tank. If the tank gets too cold the | | | | HPA tank directly from the SCUBA tank. This method |
| inside pressure can drop and give you sub-par | | | | will typically only offer a limited number of fills and only |
| performance or even freeze up the internal | | | | provide 3000psi, however, if it is your only choice then |
| components of your gun. It is best to keep your CO2 | | | | do some research. The cost of SCUBA tank is around |
| tanks around room temp - no more than about 75 | | | | $200 and you will also have to buy a special fill station |
| degrees f. CO2 output pressure is typically around | | | | to transfer the air from the SCUBA tank to your HPA |
| 800psi but can vary under different conditions and thus | | | | tank. These fill stations range around $50 - $75 |
| not every shot will be the same. Some shots with | | | | All paintball tanks must be approved and tested every |
| CO2 can be "hotter" (higher velocity) while the next | | | | so often for safety. Most tanks require a safety test |
| shot may be slower (lower velocity). This can be | | | | (hydro test) every 3 to 5 years. If your paintball tank is |
| caused by the change in pressure in the tank due to | | | | new then you should not have to worry about a |
| the temp. As we all know, gas expands when heated | | | | safety test for some time, but if your tank is a few |
| and condenses when cooled. | | | | years old then it is best to have it checked by a |
| It is important to note that not all paintball guns can use | | | | professional before use. Safety First! |
| CO2 as a power source. Some of the newer, higher | | | | In conclusion, there is no way to say that one tank is |
| end, tournament-style markers cannot use CO2 and | | | | better than another, however, your gun may require |
| require HPA for proper operation. Use of CO2 in these | | | | one type and not the other. In most cases, HPA is a |
| types of paintball guns can damage the internal | | | | great source of power for most paintball guns if it is |
| components and may void the gun's warranty. Always | | | | available in your area. HPA is typically more reliable |
| consult your owner's manual or the manufacturer's | | | | and will offer cleaner operation - just be sure your |
| website for the correct information. | | | | paintball gun can use it and check the output pressure |
| As a general rule of thumb, CO2 is the most common | | | | needed by your gun to make sure you get the right |
| source of gas for paintball guns and the vast majority | | | | tank. If HPA is not available or if your paintball gun |
| can use CO2 or HPA. For example, most Tippmann | | | | cannot use HPA then CO2 tanks are the next best |
| guns (like the 98, A5, and X7) as well as most | | | | choice. Not only are they the most common, they are |
| Kingman guns (like the Spyder series) can use CO2 | | | | also much less expensive and much easier to get filled |
| and/or HPA both. CO2 tanks can range in price from | | | | at your local paintball shop or field. |