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