Paintball: Your Questions Answered
kevin asked:
What makes a good paintball? Why are some paintballs more expensive than others? Do I have to pay a lot of money for good quality ammo? These are questions that vex paintballers, particularly those new to the sport. Let’s address these issues to enable you to buy wisely.
Do more expensive paintballs perform better than cheaper ones?
In a word: yes. More expensive ammo has tighter quality control regulations than its cheaper rivals. Paintballs vary considerably in quality and you should expect to pay more to enhance your performance.
How do paintballs vary in quality?
Quality ammunition is more consistent and reliable. It resists the affects of humidity and moisture. This results in better performance in extreme conditions. Quality paintballs will be less likely to shrink or swell in extremes of temperature.
Good ammo is strong enough to withstand expulsion from the gun without exploding; it is thin enough to burst on impact, and not before.
Good quality paintballs have a better paint fill, so the paint is brighter in colour and it marks well. It is washable, yet less easy to wipe off on the field.
Good paintballs are more spherical resulting in a straighter trajectory, greater distance and more accuracy.
Where can I buy good, cheap paintballs?
Many people buy ammo at their local field for convenience. This, however, is not a cheap option. There are many different brands of good quality, inexpensive paintballs to be found online. This is, by far, the cheaper option. Take your own ammunition to your local field; if they charge you for the privilege, it is still worth it. If they don’t allow you to use your own ammo, find another field!
How should I store my paintballs?
You should always store your ammunition in a cool, dry place; between 60-85 degrees is ideal, with as little humidity as possible. Paintballs do not have an indefinite shelf-life. They will develop flat spots if left too long which will affect their trajectory. Try to ensure a regular turn over of balls.
In short, there are numerous brands of paintballs available to you on the market. They vary in quality. You must expect to pay more for higher quality ammo. You can buy good quality paintballs online for a good price. Keep them in a cool, dry place and change your stock regularly.
Choosing the right paintball for your marker can affect your performance on the field greatly. Try out small quantities of different brands to see what you get on best with. Match your barrel size to the correct paintball size. Don’t compromise on price; you only get what you pay for.
Hawksbill Paintball
Hawksbill Sports was established by players, for players. Our goal is to give you the products you need to enjoy the sport of paintball. We have low prices and fast shipping and promise the best customer service you can find anywhere. For further information about different paintball gun types, paintballs and accessories, go to:
http://www.hawksbillpaintball.com
Caffeinated Content
What makes a good paintball? Why are some paintballs more expensive than others? Do I have to pay a lot of money for good quality ammo? These are questions that vex paintballers, particularly those new to the sport. Let’s address these issues to enable you to buy wisely.
Do more expensive paintballs perform better than cheaper ones?
In a word: yes. More expensive ammo has tighter quality control regulations than its cheaper rivals. Paintballs vary considerably in quality and you should expect to pay more to enhance your performance.
How do paintballs vary in quality?
Quality ammunition is more consistent and reliable. It resists the affects of humidity and moisture. This results in better performance in extreme conditions. Quality paintballs will be less likely to shrink or swell in extremes of temperature.
Good ammo is strong enough to withstand expulsion from the gun without exploding; it is thin enough to burst on impact, and not before.
Good quality paintballs have a better paint fill, so the paint is brighter in colour and it marks well. It is washable, yet less easy to wipe off on the field.
Good paintballs are more spherical resulting in a straighter trajectory, greater distance and more accuracy.
Where can I buy good, cheap paintballs?
Many people buy ammo at their local field for convenience. This, however, is not a cheap option. There are many different brands of good quality, inexpensive paintballs to be found online. This is, by far, the cheaper option. Take your own ammunition to your local field; if they charge you for the privilege, it is still worth it. If they don’t allow you to use your own ammo, find another field!
How should I store my paintballs?
You should always store your ammunition in a cool, dry place; between 60-85 degrees is ideal, with as little humidity as possible. Paintballs do not have an indefinite shelf-life. They will develop flat spots if left too long which will affect their trajectory. Try to ensure a regular turn over of balls.
In short, there are numerous brands of paintballs available to you on the market. They vary in quality. You must expect to pay more for higher quality ammo. You can buy good quality paintballs online for a good price. Keep them in a cool, dry place and change your stock regularly.
Choosing the right paintball for your marker can affect your performance on the field greatly. Try out small quantities of different brands to see what you get on best with. Match your barrel size to the correct paintball size. Don’t compromise on price; you only get what you pay for.
Hawksbill Paintball
Hawksbill Sports was established by players, for players. Our goal is to give you the products you need to enjoy the sport of paintball. We have low prices and fast shipping and promise the best customer service you can find anywhere. For further information about different paintball gun types, paintballs and accessories, go to:
http://www.hawksbillpaintball.com
Caffeinated Content
The Main Paintball Gun Parts: Know Your Weapon
kevin asked:
The Main Paintball Gun Parts: Know Your Weapon
If you are involved in the sport it is important to know about the main paintball gun parts. You need to understand the components of your marker to ensure its successful working and to facilitate its cleaning and upgrading. Beginners can be over whelmed by terms such as: bottom line adaptors, quick disconnect feed necks, CP micro drops and magic regulators. Essentially, most paintball gun parts will fall into one of the following main categories; body; hopper; tank or barrel.
The largest of the paintball gun parts is the main body of the marker. This comprises the bolt and the trigger frame. Bolts help to reduce the ammo breakage caused by a slow feed. The body parts can be detached from one another to incorporate upgrades and accessories. Best not to attempt this until you have become familiar with your weapon.
The body of the gun is fairly standard across the models. The main difference is in the placement of the trigger. The further forward the trigger is placed, the easier the marker is to handle with one hand and the lower the profile of the body. Guns with lower profiles are more successful in the field; markers with large bodies provide a bigger target.
The next of the main paintball gun parts is the hopper. The hopper, or loader on a marker stores and loads the ammo. Between 40 to 300 paintballs can be held by different hoppers. The speed, weight and reliability of the gun are greatly affected by the hopper type.
Stick feeds are generally used on pump action markers. They are the least sophisticated and reliable of the hopper types.
Gravity feeds are also a simple and cheap option. However, they are prone to jamming problems causing ball breakage or blockage in the hopper.
Agitating hoppers have a propeller inside the container which prevents the paintballs from jamming. They have a quicker firing pace than the previous loaders.
Force feed hoppers are used by professionals or tournament playing paintballers because they can keep up with the required loading speed. The device is spring loaded, or powered by a belt system. It captures the paintballs and forces them into the marker. They are the most sophisticated, reliable and expensive of the hopper types.
Another of the main paintball gun parts is the tank. Paintballs can be propelled in different ways and the tank contains the propellant. Markers typically use CO2 gas or high pressure air (HPA). The terms “nitrogen tank” and “HPA” tank mean the same thing.
CO2 gas was the original propulsion material. Early guns were powered by small CO2 cylinders which were good for about 15 shots. These evolved to 12 ounce CO2 tanks with a 200 shot capacity.
HPA tanks can be either high or low pressure. The regulator on the tank controls the output pressure. Some tanks have preset pressure outputs, others are adjustable. HPA is generally more reliable than CO2 and does not need an evaporation system in order to fire.
The last of the main paintball gun parts is the barrel. As the barrel determines the speed, distance and accuracy of the paintball, it is a crucial part of the marker. Barrels come in a variety of types distinguished by their length, bore and texture. Generally, the longer the barrel, the more accurate the shot as the paintball has more space to stabilize before leaving the barrel. Longer barrels will fire more quietly than shorter models, but they need a larger burst of air to propel the ball.
There are different barrels for different types of game scenarios. The sniper paintball gun is an example. It can be fitted with a scope to put the target in a clearer line of sight and a red dot laser light to add realism. Some guns allow you to change the barrels to change the whole make up of the gun.
The instruction booklet accompanying your gun will show you the different paintball gun parts and how to change and maintain them. Although paintball guns are durable, small working parts will have to be replaced occasionally. Paintball guns are designed to be upgraded so they can evolve with the abilities of the players using them. This saves the player having to buy a completely new gun as they become more accomplished. Paintball gun packages will include all of the essential paintball gun parts and accessory kits are also useful.
Caffeinated Content for WordPress
The Main Paintball Gun Parts: Know Your Weapon
If you are involved in the sport it is important to know about the main paintball gun parts. You need to understand the components of your marker to ensure its successful working and to facilitate its cleaning and upgrading. Beginners can be over whelmed by terms such as: bottom line adaptors, quick disconnect feed necks, CP micro drops and magic regulators. Essentially, most paintball gun parts will fall into one of the following main categories; body; hopper; tank or barrel.
The largest of the paintball gun parts is the main body of the marker. This comprises the bolt and the trigger frame. Bolts help to reduce the ammo breakage caused by a slow feed. The body parts can be detached from one another to incorporate upgrades and accessories. Best not to attempt this until you have become familiar with your weapon.
The body of the gun is fairly standard across the models. The main difference is in the placement of the trigger. The further forward the trigger is placed, the easier the marker is to handle with one hand and the lower the profile of the body. Guns with lower profiles are more successful in the field; markers with large bodies provide a bigger target.
The next of the main paintball gun parts is the hopper. The hopper, or loader on a marker stores and loads the ammo. Between 40 to 300 paintballs can be held by different hoppers. The speed, weight and reliability of the gun are greatly affected by the hopper type.
Stick feeds are generally used on pump action markers. They are the least sophisticated and reliable of the hopper types.
Gravity feeds are also a simple and cheap option. However, they are prone to jamming problems causing ball breakage or blockage in the hopper.
Agitating hoppers have a propeller inside the container which prevents the paintballs from jamming. They have a quicker firing pace than the previous loaders.
Force feed hoppers are used by professionals or tournament playing paintballers because they can keep up with the required loading speed. The device is spring loaded, or powered by a belt system. It captures the paintballs and forces them into the marker. They are the most sophisticated, reliable and expensive of the hopper types.
Another of the main paintball gun parts is the tank. Paintballs can be propelled in different ways and the tank contains the propellant. Markers typically use CO2 gas or high pressure air (HPA). The terms “nitrogen tank” and “HPA” tank mean the same thing.
CO2 gas was the original propulsion material. Early guns were powered by small CO2 cylinders which were good for about 15 shots. These evolved to 12 ounce CO2 tanks with a 200 shot capacity.
HPA tanks can be either high or low pressure. The regulator on the tank controls the output pressure. Some tanks have preset pressure outputs, others are adjustable. HPA is generally more reliable than CO2 and does not need an evaporation system in order to fire.
The last of the main paintball gun parts is the barrel. As the barrel determines the speed, distance and accuracy of the paintball, it is a crucial part of the marker. Barrels come in a variety of types distinguished by their length, bore and texture. Generally, the longer the barrel, the more accurate the shot as the paintball has more space to stabilize before leaving the barrel. Longer barrels will fire more quietly than shorter models, but they need a larger burst of air to propel the ball.
There are different barrels for different types of game scenarios. The sniper paintball gun is an example. It can be fitted with a scope to put the target in a clearer line of sight and a red dot laser light to add realism. Some guns allow you to change the barrels to change the whole make up of the gun.
The instruction booklet accompanying your gun will show you the different paintball gun parts and how to change and maintain them. Although paintball guns are durable, small working parts will have to be replaced occasionally. Paintball guns are designed to be upgraded so they can evolve with the abilities of the players using them. This saves the player having to buy a completely new gun as they become more accomplished. Paintball gun packages will include all of the essential paintball gun parts and accessory kits are also useful.
Caffeinated Content for WordPress