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