Paintball CO2 Tank Basics

CO2 can exist as a liquid and a gas; and your air tank can be filled with a combination of both at any given time. Obviously, your paintball gun uses it as a gas for power, however when liquid CO2 enters the valve of your marker, it can not only cause unpredictable spikes in velocity, but it can also damage the o-rings inside your gun. The velocity spikes from liquid CO2 will cause your marker to shoot erratically, causing some balls to lob, some to short normal and some to fall short.

There are several ways to avoid getting liquid into your paintball gun. The first thing to do is to point your marker upwards when you're not shooting it; keeping your gun from pointing downward will keep the liquid CO2 in the rear of the tank. Some paintball guns come with angled ASAs; this is a part on the handle/grip of the gun that angle the CO2 tank downward, keeping the tip of the marker up. You can also install a piece called an ‘anti-siphon'; this helps to allow only air into your paintball gun. You can also upgrade with an expansion chamber or regulator; this acts as an extra chamber that will catch any liquid before it gets into the gun.

If liquid CO2 has entered your paintball marker, you will know because visible white jets exit out of the barrel when you shoot. If this happens, simply point your barrel up towards the sky and shoot your gun about 10 times until the white ‘snow' jets quit coming out. Then don't point it downward for a while so no more liquid can get in. Make carrying your paintball gun (with your barrel pointing up) like this a habit and you will get less liquid in it.

CO2 tanks used for paintball guns are called ‘Pin Valve Tanks'. They are cheap, easy to find and quick to fill. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Sizes of CO2 tanks is referred to by the amount of CO2 (the combination of liquid and gas) that the tank is designed to hold. The smallest refillable CO2 cylinder for paintball markers is 30 grams, while the largest most common is 20 ounces. Some CO2 tanks hold the same amount of air but have different shapes; for example some 9oz. tanks are long and narrow (shaped like a cigar) while others look like a small version of a 20oz. tank.

You can get your CO2 tanks refilled in a number of different places. Commercial paintball parks/fields always have air tank refill stations. Wal-Mart used to have a great CO2 tank exchange program and many players relied on this, however for some reason the retail giant has chosen ‘air soft' instead of paintball and no longer offers this service. You may also find CO2 tank refills at commercial air tank supply companies; find out where your local hospital gets their tanks refilled. Gun or firearm stores also tend to offer tank refills (for air guns they may sell). Also consider checking with your local fire department or even a fire extinguisher supply company if you have one close to you. Bass Pro Shops also offer this service in case you live close enough to one of these outlet stores.

When refilling your CO2 tank, make sure it's completely empty; you cannot ‘top off' your tank. If you haven't emptied your tank completely, you will need to use up more air before getting it filled. It's best to let the people you take it to refill your tank. There is a slight element of danger involved with filling a CO2 tank and it's smartest to let someone do it for you who has experience. If you invest in a refill station, go somewhere who fills tanks to learn the proper safety procedures first.

Decide on what size CO2 tank to buy based on it's length, weight and how many shots it will give you. The number of shots you get is not exact; it depends on many factors (like the type of paintball marker you use, outside temperature, etc.). As an estimate, here are how many shots different sized CO2 tanks will offer…
4 oz. - 150-200 shots
9 oz. - 450-500 shots
12 oz. - 500-600 shots
20 oz. - 600-650 shots

When buying a CO2 tank, your best bet is to purchase them new. Use extreme caution when buying a used CO2 tank! It might look like new on the outside but there could be defects on the inside that's not visible to the naked eye. New CO2 tanks are very affordable with the largest size usually costing under $30. Used CO2 tanks can be dangerous to use and should be ‘hydrotested'. Hydrotesting is a safety procedure that tests the integrity of your tank and whether it's safe to get refilled. If you own a CO2 tank for more than a year (and plan on continuing with it), you should have it hyrotested. This procedure however, is fairly expensive and it's generally more cost effective to simply buy a new tank.

If you insist on using a used tank, do not try to refill or use a CO2 tanks that appears damaged with dents or deep scratches. Unscrew your tank slowly and carefully from your paintball gun or remote line to make sure nothing happens to the threads on the tank and avoid dropping it. If you notice the tank is starting to unscrew from it's valve (brass part), stop right away! If a pressurized tank comes off the valve, it can become a missile and can easily cause injury or even death. Incidents like this are extremely rare, but it never hurts to be too careful. Always allow a professional to install new parts to your CO2 tank.

Taking proper care of your CO2 tank is easy and will prolong it's life and safety of use. Apply oil to your tank o-ring every now and then and replace the o-ring if you notice it's drying out, warped or has any cracks or frays. Extra CO2 tank o-rings are cheap and easy to come by; make sure you have some extra to keep this part of your tank fresh for a better seal. It's also smart to purchase a thread-saver cap to protect the threads on top of your tank from getting bent/messed up. Never force a tank in or out of your paintball marker; crossthreading your tank into the ASA can be expensive to repair. Store your CO2 tank in a cool, temperature regulated environment; do not keep your tank next to a heat source - the CO2 can expand in the tank and cause it to malfunction or even become a safety hazard. If you have something installed on your tank (like a new valve or an on/off switch), make sure the loc-tight is totally dry before using it.

Overall, CO2 tanks are cheap, easy to maintain and generally last a long time if you take care of them. If you use your tank regularly, consider buying a new one every year regardless of what it looks like. The best way to protect against scratches and dings is to purchase a tank cover; these will greatly prolong the life of your tank. Knowing more about the properties of CO2 and how to take care of your tank will make your tank investment last longer and allow you to focus more on playing paintball than dealing with problems.

Dan Levesque is the owner and operator of a successful online paintball retail store, http://www.choicepaintballguns.com. He also owns and operates several other successful businesses and is the treating doctor at a full time chiropractic clinic. He is also a professional powerlifter and trains several top level strength athletes.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com