paintball carbon dioxide nitrogen and compressed air whats the difference?
what the difference between them all price wise and quality wise and how do i fill them up
CO2 is the cheaper of the gas propellants, cost wise and equipment wise. It is also the easiest to find, being available at many more places than High Pressure Air (HPA).
HPA is more expensive due to higher quality hardware to store and process. 3500 PSI is a lot of pressure.
The drawback with CO2 is inconsistent temperature performance. CO2 can freeze up the marker during sustained heavy use. This can weaken internal components to the point of failure.
HPA is not affected by temperature changes and therefore more consistent. The fire rates of current markers exceed the capabilities of CO2 to expand from liquid to gas and remain stable. As the marker shoots, liquid CO2 is released into the receiver and expands into a gas, propelling your paintball out of the barrel. If this action is repeated often enough, the receiver becomes cold enough to prevent the liquid from becoming gas. This is why balls begin fall short and eventually do not exit the barrel at all. Even expansion chamber equipped markers are susceptible the gas freeze up.
HPA does not have this drawback, therefore the "quality" appears to be better due to every ball consistently going into the same general area.
CO2 refills are fairly inexpensive, running a few dollars per 16-20 oz bottle. Air will cost two or three times that, but that forty dollar box of paint you buy will go where you want it to, most of the time.
Paintball stores and fields should have some means of refilling both systems, sporting goods stores also might have CO2 stations, fewer will have air available. You could buy your own bulk gas and refill your own gear, but the cost might be a few hundred dollars just for the hardware.
nitrogen and compressed air tanks are the same thing. Reason why some are called nitrogen tanks is because majority of our atmosphere is nitrogen so some companies call their tanks nitrogen tanks. But in all reality they are the same thing as a high compressed air tank. Quality wise is based on the company. Ninja makes some of the best tanks. Guerrilla air and pure energy also make good tanks.
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CO2 is the cheaper of the gas propellants, cost wise and equipment wise. It is also the easiest to find, being available at many more places than High Pressure Air (HPA).
HPA is more expensive due to higher quality hardware to store and process. 3500 PSI is a lot of pressure.
The drawback with CO2 is inconsistent temperature performance. CO2 can freeze up the marker during sustained heavy use. This can weaken internal components to the point of failure.
HPA is not affected by temperature changes and therefore more consistent. The fire rates of current markers exceed the capabilities of CO2 to expand from liquid to gas and remain stable. As the marker shoots, liquid CO2 is released into the receiver and expands into a gas, propelling your paintball out of the barrel. If this action is repeated often enough, the receiver becomes cold enough to prevent the liquid from becoming gas. This is why balls begin fall short and eventually do not exit the barrel at all. Even expansion chamber equipped markers are susceptible the gas freeze up.
HPA does not have this drawback, therefore the "quality" appears to be better due to every ball consistently going into the same general area.
CO2 refills are fairly inexpensive, running a few dollars per 16-20 oz bottle. Air will cost two or three times that, but that forty dollar box of paint you buy will go where you want it to, most of the time.
Paintball stores and fields should have some means of refilling both systems, sporting goods stores also might have CO2 stations, fewer will have air available. You could buy your own bulk gas and refill your own gear, but the cost might be a few hundred dollars just for the hardware.
References :
The following article does a good job of explaining the differences between the air sources:
http://sniperpaintballblog.com/2008/11/13/why-upgrade-to-compressed-air/
Hope this helps!
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