Air vs. CO₂

In the past, CO₂ was the most common gas used by paintball players. However, in recent years the use of CO₂ has declined in favor of a growing preference for high-pressure air or nitrogen.

There are a number of reasons for this:

• Cleanliness – Because CO₂ is stored in liquid form, it has to “burn off” in order to escape. This process can lead to liquid CO₂ getting into the internal workings of the paintball marker. Conversely, compressed air is a naturally clean gas, so internal marker components remain free of damaging material.
• Marker jamming – Another CO₂ downside: as gas burns off, it freezes, which can damage and jam a paintball marker. Compressed air, on the other hand, is stored in a non-freezing gaseous state. Air is released from a cylinder at a constant pressure, enhancing marker accuracy and stability.
• Temperature – CO₂ is also temperature-sensitive, which can affect the speed and trajectory of a propelled paintball. Extreme temperatures can greatly reduce the performance of markers powered by CO₂.
• Environmental – Compressed air is a more environmentally friendly gas than CO₂.