CO₂ Tanks
Overview
CO₂ tanks use compressed carbon dioxide as a propellant and were the dominant air source during paintball’s early development.
Key Points
- Rely on liquid to gas phase change inside the cylinder and marker.
- Operating pressure varies significantly with ambient temperature.
- Generally lower initial equipment cost than HPA systems.
- Largely replaced by compressed air in tournament and high rate formats.
- Still common in recreational, rental, and legacy marker environments.
Details
Carbon dioxide tanks store CO₂ primarily in liquid form, with gas produced as the liquid expands through the valve system. This phase change behavior means that pressure in the cylinder is closely tied to temperature, leading to noticeable variation in marker velocity across different weather conditions or during sustained rapid firing. In colder conditions, CO₂ systems can experience pressure drop, partial freezing of components, and changes in cycling behavior.
At typical room temperatures, CO₂ tank pressure is often near the 800 psi range, but this value can shift substantially with heat or cooling. Like other pressure vessels used in paintball, CO₂ cylinders fall under hydrostatic test schedules defined by their markings and approvals. While competitive formats and many modern markers have moved to compressed air for stability and compatibility reasons, CO₂ remains a widely used propellant in rental operations and among casual players using equipment designed around CO₂ characteristics.
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