Many of us start out with paintball guns that are cheaper. Just as a sixteen year old will often start out with a cheaper car instead of a brand new BMW, many new paintballers start with a more affordable gun.
Less expensive markers will often use CO2, a power source that will work fine in most cases, but for those who want all the edge they can get to become a better paintballer, it is inferior to HPA (High Pressure Air).
Making the switch to compressed air (aka HPA) is a great idea for paintballers that want to have the best performance. Improved performance is the main reason for switching.
During periods of rapid fire, a marker fueled by CO2 is most likely to have problems. Consistency will drop, and the paintballs will begin flying shorter distances, making it difficult to hit what you are aiming for.
CO2 has difficulty expanding fast enough from liquid to gas when you are shooting fast. No one wants to have their paintballs fly at unpredictable distances when they are trying to hit a target.
Unlike CO2, compressed air performs great in cold weather. This is especially important for anyone who regularly plays in colder temperatures, or during winter.
When you shoot fast, your marker can “freeze up” which happens when the liquid enters your marker and wreaks havoc in performance. It can cause your gun to sputter, choke, or stop working.
Do you sometimes have what looks like snow shooting out of your gun when it is cold outside? This is the telltale sign that liquid is starting to get into your gun.
The problem with CO2 is that it is in both liquid and gas form inside your tank. Gas is good, but the liquid is bad when it gets into the marker. When it happens, it causes poor performance. Compressed air tanks only have air inside of them.
Paintballers that want the best performance should make the switch to a compressed air tank. It is more consistent and will not give you problems in cold weather.
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