One of the biggest questions for those getting into paintball: Should I use CO2 or HPA?

If you’re asking, then answer this: What was your marker designed to use? What climate will you be playing in?

Many high-end markers are designed to be used strictly with HPA. The primary advantage from HPA is consistency. This is most evident in colder weather, when CO2 pressure drops due to ambient temperatures. The only reason I can see to modify a marker for HPA is if you’re playing during colder weather. It can also make your shots more consistent, and therefore more accurate.

Tippmanns and some of the low-end markers are designed to run on CO2. Using CO2 with an expansion chamber helps to regulate the flow by creating a chamber to give the CO2 a chance to change from liquid to gas. This does two things - it helps reduce the chances of liquid CO2 from entering your marker and freezing or damaging it, which really sucks. It also tends to make your velocity more consistent, which helps make your shots more consistent and can influence your shot pattern to also be more accurate.

Notice that both scenarios involve accuracy. While it will help, if this is the reason that you choose one or the other then you’re better off starting with higher quality balls and barrel improvements. Most pros use HPA, but the markers they use require it. When you spend a couple thousand dollars on a marker, you don’t mess around with something that will reduce the quality of, or damage, your marker.

Often it comes down to cost and availability. The lower cost and most available is CO2, which can also be more challenging to fill. HPA bottles are much costlier, as well. It’s often harder to locate a fill station for it.

The bottom line is that CO2 is often the way to go when starting out. HPA has definite advantages, but it will cost you a bit more to get going.

This entry was posted on Friday, September 21st, 2007 at 9:18 pm and is filed under Guns and Equipment. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.