Fueling the Fire: Paintball Air Systems
Paintball is a paramilitary sport based off the childhood game of Capture the Flag. Two teams, usually in a wooded environment, compete to protect their own flag and to secure the flag of the other team. However, unlike the original game, paintball involves the use of guns which fire small, paint-filled balls. These paintball guns, or paintball markers, use compressed air to propel the paintballs at the desired targets. Paintball air systems are mechanically simple yet detailed. There are many moving parts in paintball air systems, but for the average player, the science of paintball is no more complicated than pulling the trigger.
The Big Picture
Paintball air systems usually depend on one of two types of gas: CO2 or compressed air. When paintball was first introduced as a sport, CO2 was the gas of choice, but most tournament-level paintball markers now utilize High Pressure Air (HPA) tanks. CO2 paintball air systems are cheaper and are often the first choice of amateur players looking for an inexpensive window into the sport. These systems, however, are inconsistent, inaccurate and inefficient; carbon dioxide as a gas is affected by temperature and other environmental effects, and has the power to damage the internal components of the paintball marker over time.
The hearts of most paintball air systems are located in the air tanks. Whether CO2 or HPA-based, all paintball air systems rely on gas to propel the paintballs. These tanks are usually steel or aluminum, although recent experiments with carbon fiber has resulted in an air tank that is lighter and more durable than traditional models. When the trigger is pulled, a small in valve inside the gun is forced open by a hammer, releasing air from the tank. The air is directed by a bolt into the chamber, pushing a paintball out of the marker at speeds of up to 300 feet per second. The air is then controlled backward through the chamber to force the hammer closed, readying the trigger for the next shot.
While both paintball air systems successfully fire paintballs, the science is not exact when it comes to CO2. Carbon dioxide is a volatile gas, and can expand when not properly controlled. Many older paintball markers have no real control over gas expansion, and this can cause the paintballs to be expelled at speeds in excess of safety regulations. HPA paintball air systems, while more expensive and slightly more intricate, should always be considered first, even for beginners. Safety to both the user and the other players is of paramount concern in the sport of paintball, and if a solution as simple as using HPA paintball air systems can ensure that, money should not be a factor.
