11. How many shots per tank?

TANKS MEASUREMENTS

With a 3000psi scuba tank you can fill up to 15-20 times small compressed air tanks. Air tanks capacity is a relationship between the space in cubic inches (cu.) and the tank maximum pressure strength (psi).
You can have 10 shoots per cu. at 3000psi and 15 shoots per cu. at 4500psi.
Example: 68cu./3000 = 680 shoots
68cu./4500 = 1,020 shoots

CO2 is a liquid is measured by weight. A 50 pound CO2 big tank is the equivalent of 800 ounces, meaning, you can fill like 40 tanks of 20oz.

The CO2 tank pressure are between 600psi to 900psi depends of the temperature.

When the pressure drops during each shot, the liquid changes to gas maintaining the top maximum pressure, how fast the pressure rise to the top, depends of the tank's temperature. The hotter the temperature is , the faster it evaporates. The tanks never are fully filled, keeping a space for the evaporation process.

You can get up to 50 shoots per once.
Example: 50 x 20(oz) = 1000 shoots.

Tip: If you play in hot weather like Florida or use heavy duty guns, like Tippmann mostly use in woods ball, I suggested to stay with CO2.

If you live in cold weather or play in tournaments requiring fast shooting, stay with Compress Air.

To get a idea, a 68cu. carbon fiber are like the size dimensions of 20oz CO2. I don't suggest to get a tank bigger than that, you will have difficulties to play, unless you want to be like Rambo.

Take in consideration that not many places have the compressor machine to reach 4500 psi, you might be stuck with 3000 anyway. I suggest to check your local air supplier store before you choose to pay more for a 4500psi tank.

Custom Search

10. Which is better, CO2 or Air?

CO2 or Air, many people have this conflict. You need to understand how each works accordingly were you play and the type of gun that your are using. Some hard guns like Tippmann may works better with CO2, other competition guns like ION may play better with air. People always have different opinions, preferences and experiences.

The gas is not expensive, both have similar costs per filling, people look more the convenience. "I do scuba diving and I can fill my air tanks with my scuba tank" or "I prefer to go to the Sport Store next to my house and get CO2".

You can get CO2 refills in stores like Paintball Stores, Walmart, Sport Authority, Home Depot, etc..., for refill your air tank you can go to your local Paintball Store or a Scuba Shop, they have a special high psi output compressor.

To own a filling station for Compress Air you can get a 3000psi scuba tank (avg. $300) or a High psi air compressor (over $10,000)... or for CO2 you can get a tank from the local gas supplier, you can buy it (avg.$300) or rent it (avg. $5/mo.).

Tip: This is what I did, I get one standard size used 50lb. CO2 tank from a old soda machine from any store that went out of business, I paid $25 because needed a Hydro test, then I go to the local gas supplier, open an account and they let me swap it for a filled tank. Only cost me $30 every time for a full gas tank, 50 lbs tank are 800 ounces, is like 40 x 20 oz tanks, around $0.75 per tank versus $5.00 at the retail store,... imagine the gasoline costs that I save and how many times I went and they don't have CO2 available. Now I bring the tank to our play site and everybody wants to me fill their tanks, I can charge $2.00 and still making money.

CO2
The costs of a aluminum CO2 tank are cheaper than a Air tank. CO2 is a liquid that evaporates quickly, that's why you can store more gas with less pressure (900psi) in a small bottle, versus compress air (3000psi or 4500psi).

Basically, as hotter the weather it is, the CO2 faster and easy changes from liquid to gas. In a hot weather you can have like (900psi), on cold weather is like (600 psi). The CO2 tanks cannot be full fill, they need some empty space for the evaporation process. During that process the pressure changes, that's why tournaments that require fast shooting Air is a better option.

When you play, the movements can send liquid CO2 to your gun, that can frozen the rubber rings internally, frozen rubber make it breaks easily having later a CO2 leakage. A cheaper option to prevent liquid come from the tanks is to install a syphon tube inside of each tank, costs about $2 per kit.

Also, some people install on their guns something called "expansion chambers", is like have a second little bottle were give is a second chance to any liquid that escapes from the tank to evaporate before goes to the gun. If you own a fill station like me, you can just put 12oz on a 20oz tank to have more space inside and less liquid.

Keep in mind: Air tanks last less than a CO2 and are cost 5 times more expensive than the CO2. (20oz CO2 tank cost around $30 vs 4500psi air tank costs around $175) . Many places like Walmart sell CO2, but only a few places have a special compressor to fill air tanks.

COMPRESS AIR
Compress Air are cleaner gas, better for your gun and can be use in all kind of weather temperature. With a 3000 psi scuba tank you can fill up to 15-20 times and many competition guns works better with air, hard guns like Tippmann works better with CO2. A scuba tank is more lighter to carry than the 50 lbs CO2 tank. Air tanks can deliver constant air pressure to the gun, versus CO2 changes after every shot. Air is more dangerous since you dealing with higher pressure,but consider that CO2 (900 psi) or 3000 psi, still dangerous, inspect your tank always.

The air tanks capacity are a relationship between the space (cu.) and the pressure (psi.). You can choose between 3000psi Air fiberglass or aluminum tanks, more expensive tanks are the carbon fiber, that can be fill up to 4500psi.

Most people have only 1 scuba tank as a fill station, the problem is that your waisting your top pressure on fill your empty tank, having no more the top 3000psi, on every fill less top psi you will have, that makes you refill your tanks more often.

The most efficient way to maintain your psi at the maximum is having 3 scuba tanks. Use the 1st tank to fill your empty tank, use the 2nd tank to bring up the psi and the 3rd tank to bring to the top psi.

Custom Search

9. What kind of hopper should I use?

The hopper is created to feed your gun, every gun comes with a gravitational force in the hopper. Those are simple but the balls won't feed in a constant manner, sometimes you find out that you are shooting just air because the balls get stuck inside.





Electrical hoppers need batteries which cost from $20 to $100 or more. The price depends on the balls shot per second that can feed into your gun. Some comes with sensors that only moves on every shot saving battery life, some are more quiet, or simply have a counter to easily calculate how much you have left inside.


The Tippmann's A-5 and X-7, hopper that came with the gun doesn't need battery, since it moves with a little bit of the same gas that you use on every shot. Also the balls are fed from the side, making the hopper stick a little lower than the standard ones.

Custom Search

8. How I can make my gun shoot quieter?

The holes along the barrel are created to reduce the air pressure before they make the exploding sound at the end. Too many holes can reduce the pressure behind the ball, making the distance shorter and weaken the shots.


Calibrate your gun, you can get a paintball radar ($70) to calibrate the speed with the amount of air. Reducing the air pressure amount, means less noise. Paint ball manufacturers make the balls to be hit with a leveled amount of pressure. If your gun hits the ball too hard, the pressure can break the balls inside the gun. For safety reasons, don't exceed the 300 fps (feet per second).

Custom Search

7. How I can get accuracy on my shoots?

The accuracy depends on your barrel and the balls that you use.

THE BARREL: Every gun comes with a stock barrel to making it appear complete in the package. Normally those barrels are short like 8" and are made to handle all kind of balls sizes.

A short barrel cannot stabilize the ball on time before it leaves the barrel, on the other side, a long barrel creates more friction, reducing the shot distance.


I tried Apex, Flatline, etc... The problem with those barrels are that have only one standard size diameter. Some air pressure is lost when it goes around the ball instead all from behind pushing the ball.

Imagine shooting a grain of rice through a straw?

Some barrels have a curve design to provide more distance. Think scientifically, you cannot get more than the total amount of energy, meaning, if you get more distance is because you will sacrifice the power. Why you want to reach someone far away if the ball cannot explode on them.

Some energy escapes around the ball, like the rice and the straw. You need to use all that energy behind the ball, to do that, you need to have a barrel diameter that matches the balls that you using.

A good barrel set is "THE FREAK" kit made by Smart Parts, it's expensive ($150) but worth the price.

You can match the ball's diameter with inserts (from .679 to .697) that make the ball fit perfectly inside. If you combine the inserts with a 14" barrel your gun will be a killer machine.

Other companies make individual barrel sizes, but kits are more expensive than the inserts style.

THE BALLS: Every paint ball brand doesn't have the same size regardless if the size is should be .68. You need to find fresh balls that have that perfect round shape. Don't buy cheap brands, like "MONSTER" balls from Walmart.

Big stores have those paint balls in storage for too long, making the balls flatten out on one side for the pressure made to be storage for too long, that flat side creates a wing effect that makes the balls shoot to all kind of directions.

Go to local paintball stores, they may receive small shipment amount, keeping paint balls constantly fresh. To give you an idea, 3 months is concider already old balls.

When looking for good quality the paint balls should have a constant round shape and break on contact. Cheap balls won't break easy, hurting more, creating marks and bruises. Keep in mind, why prefer to spend less money in balls if you need to shoot more to get someone?

Less shots mean saving more in gas and doesn't reveal where you are on the field.

2000 balls per case, cheap balls average ($25), expensive balls average ($40).

TIP: Try different types of balls and find paint balls that match your barrel inside. Open any paintball case at the store before you buy it, especially if you go to a big store, they normally let you do it. Touch and check every pack, don't buy it if they don't have that perfect round shape or if the bags are contaminated with paint from a broken ball.

If you buy brittle balls, leave it outside for a couple minutes, the heat will make them expand and softer. If are they are too soft they might not explode. Leave them inside the car with the AC on. They cool temperature will make them harder.

If you play in hot weather like Florida during summer, take a cooler, place some ice at the bottom, some layers of cardboard and the paint box on top, that should keep the balls in constant cold temperature. Do not store the balls in hot/warm temperatures like in a garage or the inside of your car.

WARNING: Do not freeze the balls, that can break or damage someone's goggles or make a serious injury.

Custom Search

6. What is the best mask to use?

All masks are made to hold the shooting pressure.

The mask quality is very important. Imagine on a hot day the lens end up fogging up during a game, at that point you are completely blind, and for safety you cannot take your mask out during that game, what you going to do?

A cheap mask can start from $15 up to $40, normally have poor vision and/or uncomfortable.




A good mask starts from $40 up to $150 (average). Some masks have full head protection, like the next mask for example, I paid $40 at the local store, have a good ventilation, great protection, but poor comfort. The padding inside feels like a scrub sponge in your face.






Some expensive ones comes with a wide angle glass lens for better vision, have anti-fog treatment, anti-scratch, good ventilation and good strapping to hold it in place. This example is a great mask, obviously as you can see, don't provide too much protection above your head.






Other ones comes with nice protection and colorful design. You need to think twice to buy one like that if you will play woods ball, red color are too visible between the trees, try to get it in camouflage design instead.

Custom Search

5. How much money do I need to spend to play paintball?

I suggest to spend the less possible amount of money, until you know what you want. If you want to just play without spending too much money, you can get a whole kit set (Mask, gun, tank and hopper) like for $60 average. Is a good start and give you the opportunity to get experience and meet other people with their guns.

Personally, I like "woods ball", as you can see in the picture, I spent on my paintball set like around $500 and I'm really happy with it. I saw people that play in tournaments and they spent between $800 to $2000.

Never play without a mask.......

Custom Search

4. What kind of gun should I use?

Let other friends loan you their guns, see how feels, do you like heavy or light? Consider that cheap guns are made to place it in the garbage once stop working.



If you like WOODS BALL, like soldier war kind of games, you may like a gun more heavy duty and that looks real, like a M-16 for example. TIPPMANN guns are around since the paintball beginnings, great support, and is a lot of replacement parts and upgrades.



If you are interested in COMPETITION, tournaments with bunkers, you may consider light weight guns, you need to move faster, shoot many balls per second and be able to hold your gun with one hand. Most common guns are ION, DYE, JT or SPIDER.
Things to consider when buying a gun: Accuracy, reliability, support and upgrade ability.

Custom Search

3. What I can use to help me to don't get hurt?

The best help is the experience, the gear and the correct shooting posture will help you decrease the amounts of getting shot on some unwanted places. Get a couple shirts or a sweater, long pants and very important a mask. You can buy vests, neck protector, gloves with padding on each finger, a full head mask, knee padding, boots, etc...

If you going to play in the woods (woods ball) you may consider camo clothes, places like Walmart or Kmart have camo pants, shirt or jackets for hunting around $30. For tournaments (bunkers), you want lighter and more comfortable, try buying a specific color clothes that match your team, that way is easy to identify your friends. On Woods ball you have more time to think and planning vs Tournaments are very fast and quick games, making you more react and running.

Custom Search

2. What I can do to start and get my first experience in paintball sport?

When you want to start in the paintball sport, first you need to try and know what is about. Go with somebody that has a marker gun, check how it works, practice shooting an object.

Borrow a mask and tell your friend to shoot your legs, see how it feels, that will take out some of the fear. It will feel like a bee sting and the pain goes away after a few minutes. People that have very white skin will have more visible mark than the darker skins.

Your posture and the way you play can determine were you will get hit. At the begging I had been shoot almost everywhere, now I get shot mostly on my mask or my gun.

Custom Search