| Should I get a high pressure or low pressure N2 | | | | generate enough pressure to allow the gun to |
| or HPA tank for my paintball gun? | | | | operate. So if you have a gun that needs 800 PSI |
| That's a good question. Let's get a few things | | | | to work and you hook up a 400 PSI LP tank to |
| straight first. The terms "nitrogen tank" and "high | | | | it, you are not putting in enough pressure to allow |
| pressure air" (HPA) tank mean the same thing. | | | | the gun to work. This is why you would need a |
| Fields and stores use compressed air to fill the | | | | high pressure tank. |
| tanks because air is more easily accessible. In the | | | | Mid- to higher-end guns typically operate with less |
| past, nitrogen was more readily available to fields | | | | than 300 PSI input pressure and come with a high |
| than more expensive compressors. Today if you | | | | pressure regulator. High pressure regulators go |
| walk into a store and ask for a nitro tank or a | | | | inline (in between) the tank and the gun. These |
| nitro fill they will know what you mean. | | | | regulators can accept an input pressure of up too |
| Second, "high pressure" or "low pressure" refers | | | | 850 PSI and regulate it down to a user-adjustable |
| to the actual output pressure of the regulator on | | | | setting to meet the markers' LP needs. LP guns |
| your tank. The regulator controls the pressure | | | | can use LP tanks. Using an LP Tank with an LP |
| that your tank will use in your gun. High pressure | | | | gun will result in better shot consistency over the |
| tanks usually output 800 to 850 PSI. Low | | | | chrono because you are not putting as much |
| Pressure tanks usually output 450 PSI. Preset | | | | stress on the inline high pressure regulator. Having |
| tanks have a fixed output pressure from the | | | | an LP tank with an LP gun will also prevent or |
| factory which cannot be adjusted. Both HP and LP | | | | minimize hot shots if your inline regulator fails. It |
| tanks have preset outputs. Adjustable tanks like | | | | will minimize the high pressure air spike going into |
| the Nitroduck X-stream or the Empire Adjustable | | | | the gun which will typically cause your velocity to |
| don't have a fixed output pressure and can be | | | | spike up as well. |
| adjusted by the player to any output pressure | | | | So in short, if you have an HP gun or an LP gun |
| they need. This article will focus on preset tanks | | | | with an HP regulator, you can use an HP tank. LP |
| because you can use adjustable tanks for any | | | | guns can also use an LP tank. Some guns, like the |
| gun. | | | | Angel Speed 05, come with a built-in, inline LP |
| Now is HP or LP right for your gun? There are a | | | | regulator so they can only use LP tanks. As |
| few things to keep in mind when considering this. | | | | technology advances we are seeing more and |
| First, what pressure does your gun need to cycle | | | | more entry level guns becoming LP, so it's always |
| and shoot a paintball? (This is called the operating | | | | best to check with the manufacturer of your |
| pressure.) Tippmanns, Spyders and other entry | | | | marker for their tank recommendations. And |
| level guns need 800 PSI or higher to operate, so | | | | never buy a new tank before you buy a new |
| you would need an HP tank with these guns to | | | | gun. |