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Paintball - There Are Advantages And Disadvantages Of CO2 Vs HPA

Paintball - There Are Advantages And Disadvantages Of CO2 Vs HPA

This is a listing of some advantages and disadvantages of using CO2 or HPA (High Pressure Air) in your paintball marker. HPA can refer to both Compressed Air or N2 (Nitrogen).

Advantages CO2
-Cheapest propellant supply and often probably the most available.
-CO2 takes up less room, as most of the CO2 is stored as liquid and it convert gasoline (pressure) with ambient heat. (More shots per tank).
-CO2 tanks are cheaper to purchase.
-Smaller CO2 tanks are exempt from Hydrotesting, however do expire after 15 years.

Disadvantages CO2
-Restricted ambient heat (underneath 5oC), will not convert enough liquid to fuel for most markers.
-Not all markers work on CO2 anymore, especially higher rates of fire semis.
-Tanks can over pressurize (with higher temperatures) and blow out rupture disks.
-Tanks can enhance their pressure with high ambient temperatures, to over 1,300 p.s.i. (normally -800-1,000 p.s.i.), which can cause unregulated markers to shoot too fast for safety.
-Unless you take away the tank and weigh it, you don't know how much CO2 is left within the tank.

Advantages HPA
-HPA refers to Compressed Air or Nitrogen fuel as much as 4,500 p.s.i.
-Below our (Canada) temperatures, it is a more stable source of propellant. Which signifies that the speed is stable for most of the day.
-Can be used to play "Winter" paintball outside, we play down to -15oC, however markers appear to work -at colder temperatures. (Nevertheless, batteries do not work properly at these temperatures.)
-You don't freeze the markers seals or o-rings with each shot.
-Easy fills, normally with out eradicating the tank from the marker.
-Works on all markers, however might need particular outputs (high or low) for some.
-Safer source generally than CO2. (Might do a complete article on this alone).
-Full four,500 p.s. softguns i. fills will not be offered in every single place, and sometimes not even three,000 p.s.i. fills, which limit your pictures per tanks.
-Gauge on tank lets you see how much pressure you have got left.

Disadvantages HPA


-Higher pressures than CO2.
-Typically not as available as CO2.
-Doubtlessly higher price to make use of per shot.
-Tanks have to be hydrotested each three-5 years (usually) , and expire after 15 years, or so many Hrydotests.
-Fiber wrapped tanks can have their fibers damaged, after which are unsafe to fill, and will NOT pass Hyrdotesting. These all must be used with a protective cowl over the fibers.
-Oil or petroleum based mostly products can flash beneath HPA pressures (3,000 p.s.i. +) and explode, so none of these products can be used to restore fill nipples that leak, air lines, etc. Leaking fill nipples needs to be replaced.
-Fill nipples should be covered and guarded against debris.