| All About Paintballs | | | | .68. An easy test to see if a paintball will |
| | | | work in your gun is to put the ball in one |
| Paintballs are gelatin capsules filled with a | | | | end of the barrel. If it rolls out on its |
| water-soluble marking dye. The dye inside is | | | | own, it is too small. It is a good fit if you |
| non-toxic, meaning that if you swallow it, it | | | | can easily blow it out of the barrel. If you |
| will not hurt you. However, the taste is not | | | | cannot easily blow it out, it is too big. |
| very pleasant. | | | | |
| | | | When choosing the color of your paintballs, |
| Paintballs are manufactured by many different | | | | it is necessary to consider the playing |
| companies. As with most things, paintballs | | | | environment. If you are playing in the woods, |
| can be either low quality, or high quality. | | | | bright colors may be preferred, as it is |
| Of course, paintballs also come in a variety | | | | easier to see the paint. Some paintballs glow |
| of colors. Paintballs can also be bought in | | | | in the dark. If you are playing at night, |
| many different quantities, with just as many | | | | this may be what you want. |
| variations of prices. | | | | |
| | | | A few brands of paintballs that are made for |
| Most paintball fields require you to purchase | | | | cold weather playing. They are designed for |
| and use their paint. This is how they make | | | | better performance during the winter months. |
| their money. Therefore, in most cases, brand | | | | |
| and quality of the paint will not be deciding | | | | Occasionally, paintballs will break inside |
| factors. | | | | the barrel of your gun. If this is happening |
| | | | on a regular basis, there may be a problem. |
| The best way to determine which brand | | | | It could be the gun. You may have your |
| quantity/quality of paintballs you should buy | | | | velocity set to high. The ideal setting for |
| is to know how you will be using those | | | | your guns velocity is about 280. You may also |
| paintballs. If you are using the paintballs | | | | bust balls in the barrel if you do not keep |
| for practice, you naturally will want to go | | | | it clean. Having too much oil or not enough |
| with the cheapest paintballs. Quality will | | | | oil in the barrel can also cause the |
| not matter much in this instance. | | | | paintballs to break. Often, too much air |
| | | | pressure, or uneven air pressure, can cause |
| If you will be using the paintballs for | | | | the paintballs to break. |
| rec-ball, again, quality is not quite as | | | | |
| important, and you may want to go with the | | | | If the problem is not the gun, it is the |
| cheapest price. However, if you will be using | | | | paintballs. The most common problem will be |
| the paintballs for tournament play, quality | | | | the size of the paintballs you are using. Try |
| matters a great deal. You want paintballs | | | | using a smaller size. Dirty paintballs can |
| that will not break easily inside your gun or | | | | also cause them to break. If your paintball |
| in transit. At the same time, you do want | | | | hits the ground, do not use it in your gun. |
| paintballs that will break easily when they | | | | Take the loss. |
| hit an opponent. Many tournaments will | | | | |
| require you to use the paint that they are | | | | Cheaper paint breaks more often than quality |
| selling. Tournament grade balls tend to be | | | | paint. Old paint breaks more often than new |
| resistant to "wiping", meaning that the paint | | | | paint. Extreme temperatures also have an |
| is harder to wipe off. This discourages | | | | effect on your paint. Unless your paint is |
| cheating. | | | | especially made for cold temperatures, avoid |
| | | | using it or storing it in such conditions. |
| You must also purchase the right size | | | | High humidity can also cause problems, by |
| paintballs for your gun. Paintballs sizes are | | | | weakening and warping the paintballs. You |
| measured in calibers. The most common caliber | | | | should throw out paintballs that you have had |
| of the barrel on a paint gun is .68. However, | | | | for three or more months. Paint may also |
| it is important that you check the | | | | break if you are shooting the gun faster than |
| documentation that comes with your gun to | | | | what your hopper can manage. This is called |
| make sure you know the correct caliber of | | | | over shooting the feed. |
| your gun's barrel, therefore enabling you to | | | | |
| purchase the correct caliber paintballs. | | | | When storing your paintballs, keep this in |
| | | | mind. Higher quality paintballs last longer |
| Both paintballs and paint ball gun barrels | | | | than low quality when kept in storage. You |
| range in sizes from .67 to .71 calibers. Just | | | | will need to store your paintballs in a dry |
| because your gun requires a .68 caliber | | | | area where the temperature does not vary too |
| paintball, does not necessarily mean that | | | | much. Store paintballs in a sealed container |
| this is the best caliber for your gun. | | | | or bag to keep dust and dirt out. |
| Paintballs are not perfectly round. You will | | | | |
| need to experiment with different sizes, | | | | It is a good idea to purchase low quantities |
| close to the caliber your gun calls for. It | | | | of different quality/brand/priced paintballs |
| may be that a .67 caliber paintball works | | | | and try them out to see which one works best |
| best in your gun, even if your barrel bore is | | | | for you and your paintball gun. |