What’s the Diff?

By Jordan Ricks
6-6-05

What brand of paintballs should you use? It seems like there are a million different kinds of paintballs out there, so why should you spend a little more cash on one brand instead of going with a cheap brand and using the couple of bucks you saved to buy your girlfriend lunch at Taco Bell?

The differences of one brand from another may be very slight in terms of specs, but they may be dramatic in terms of shelf-life and performance on the field. Buying the right paint hinges on several factors, including what paintball marker and barrel you use, as well as the weather/temperature where you play paintball. But accuracy starts with the quality of paint you use. The best markers and barrels in the world won’t be able to improve your accuracy if you are using lousy (dimpled, out-of-round, swelled) paint.

Paintballs vary in terms of quality and consistency, depending on the brand. The seams of paintballs are never perfectly consistent and tend to cause a slight increase of width. Other paintballs may have shape dimples or be slightly oblong or egg-shaped, or contain voids (bubbles). Irregularities such as these adversely affect the aerodynamics and trajectory of a paintball. Slight variations in the size, shape and weight of paintballs can affect velocity by 15 fps, and greatly reduce accuracy as well. But these variations are negligible with the higher quality paints on the market.

NOTE:To conduct a simple test to check paintballs for empty pockets, roll the paintball down an even incline (i.e. cookie sheet, steel plate). If the ball doesn’t roll straight or wobbles then it probably has a void. You can also spin the ball on a smooth surface, and the paint with voids in them will wobble.

When choosing a paintball, the most important factor to consider is the bore size. Most marker barrels and paintballs have a .68 caliber; but paintballs come in a variety of sizes, ranging from .681 to .692+.

Since it’s impossible to judge the caliber variances by sight, put one size of paintball in the end of your marker barrel and then try to blow it out. If the ball rolls out by itself, it’s too small. If you get light-headed trying to blow that sucker out then it’s too big, but if you put a ball in and it doesn’t fall out, yet you can blow it out fairly easily, then it’s j-u-u-s-t right, and you got yourself a potential winner.

But you still need to consider some other factors. Some barrels work better with oily paintballs, while others perform better with dry, textured shells. In addition to reading any owner’s manuals, you’re best bet is to get feedback from other players (with the same marker), experiment with different kinds of paint and compare accuracy, and compare the number of chops in the barrel (if any), and so forth. (We’ll provide more information and detailed test results on this site as soon as possible.)

Tournament grade paintballs generally have thinner shells (not recommended for A-5 Flatline Barrel Systems) and are more resistant to wiping, to discourage cheating. It’s unfortunate that paintballs have to be designed specifically to discourage cheating, but if wipe-resistant paint helps to discourage pathetic cheaters, then so be it.

Naturally, you want to find the best prices when choosing where to buy your paint, but you should also choose from dealers/distributors that you know are reputable and conduct a lot of business. Companies that move a lot of paint are more likely to rotate their stock and keep their inventory fresh. The last thing you want to do is end up with paintballs that have been sitting in the warehouse for 15 months. After you buy your paintballs, make sure you keep them packaged, or covered in a clean, dry place where the temperature doesn’t fluctuate wildly. Don’t store them in your car or in an un-insulated storage shed/garage.

A-5 Flatline Owners
If you own a Tippmann A-5^™ with a Flatline^™ Barrel System (you lucky bastard), then you have to be even more selective in choosing the right paintballs.

Since the Flatline puts more stress on the paintball, you’ll need a higher grade of paint, so don’t pinch pennies if you’re running with a Flatline. The principle technique used by the Flatline to increase your range is putting a backspin on the paintball, so choose quality paint with a small bore size and a dry, textured shell. Some cheaper paintballs are not as universally well shaped and more apt to break, and thin shelled paintballs may also tend to break in the barrel of the Flatline.

To optimize the performance of your Flatline and limit paint chops in your barrel, maintain your velocity at 265 to 275 feet per second - max.

The Effects of Temperature
Heat tends to soften paintball skins, and humidity can cause paintballs to expand slightly. Cold weather can make paintballs brittle, resulting in more ‘splitting’ in the barrel – which is why there are varying brands of paint that are rated for particular temperature ranges. The brands made specifically for cold weather consist of a slightly thicker shell to provide better performance during the winter. Polar Ice has received excellent reviews among top players who endured the winter months in Utah.

Other Factors to Consider When Choosing Paint

• Paintballs with bright fills make it easier to see splatter when playing woodsball^™.
• Glow in the dark paint is available for night games.