Paintball Tanks

Paintball tanks are the portion of the markers that contain the air or other permitted gas which propels the paintball pellets from the guns through the barrels and toward the targets. Generally speaking, a paintball tank is attached to the marker so that no other equipment is needed. There are some players, however, who prefer to carry a detachable paintball gun tank that fits backpack style onto the player’s back, or may be otherwise secured on the player’s person, and is connected to the marker via a hose.

Paintball tanks contain compressed gas. The substances of choice are carbon dioxide, air, or nitrogen. By and large, those in the know prefer nitros tanks; paintball reviews have posted a number of studies that seem to imply an improvement of shot accuracy during rapid firing. Manufacturers of paintball nitrogen tanks capitalize on these findings by advertising heavily that their paintball tanks will not fall victim to pressure variations the way a CO2 paintball tank is liable to. The same is true for those who market affordable air tanks for paintball guns – high pressure air also does not fall victim to pressure changes. Yet there are drawbacks to working with a high pressure paintball air tank; for one, CO2 paintball tanks are a lot lighter than expensive or cheap nitrogen tanks for paintball guns. Secondly, cheap compressed air tanks for paintball are still more expensive than even mid-grade CO2 paintball tanks.

It is important to remember when learning how to fill paintball tank accessories that while some use unadulterated nitrogen, the lingo has evolved to such an extent that those who simply speak of nitro or nitrogen are actually referring to a mix found in a compressed air paintball tank which usually consists of about 80% nitrogen and 20% oxygen, although these values are subject to change at times. Many misunderstandings and blown paintball tank covers have been caused by the indiscriminate usage of the terms and for this reason paintball tank instructions are extremely clear in their instructions on how to fill the paintball tanks, what substances to use when filling and re-filling them, how to bleed them, and also how to look for unusual wear or signs of corrosion.

Some leagues and all tournaments have very comprehensive rules about the kinds of gasses that may be used during play, and those who are found to be out of compliance will be summarily disqualified.