Cold Paint

Cold paint describes paintballs that have dropped below an optimal temperature range, typically due to outdoor storage, exposure during winter play, or extended time in uninsulated gear bags. Temperature directly affects the shell’s polymer structure and the internal fill.

When paint becomes cold, the shell can react in two ways depending on manufacturing and conditions. Some paint becomes more brittle. These fragile shells are prone to breaking in the feedneck, breech, or barrel. Brittle cold paint often leads to chops, barrel breaks, and reliability issues.

Other paint becomes harder in the cold, making it less likely to break on target even when shot at proper velocities. Hard cold paint may bounce more frequently during gameplay, reducing elimination effectiveness.

Cold temperatures also thicken the internal fill. Thicker fill creates drag during firing and contributes to velocity inconsistencies. These inconsistencies translate into inaccuracy and can weaken the overall effectiveness of the paint.

Proper storage mitigates many issues. Players commonly keep paint indoors until immediately before use, transport it in insulated bags, or warm pods under jackets. Tournament teams may rotate paint cases to maintain temperature stability.

Adjustments may include slight overboring to reduce friction, lowering velocity to reduce barrel stress on brittle paint, and using loaders with gentle feed mechanisms.

Understanding cold paint behavior is essential for maintaining performance in winter weather or during early-season events.