How long does a paintball air tank last?
Paintball cylinders need to be retested for its serviceability every three to five years. They also only have a lifespan of 15 years. HYDROSTATIC TEST or HYDROTEST – The tank is visually inspected for cracks then is pressurized with water to look for a drop in pressure or to see if there are any leaks.
The 4500psi tanks get significantly more shots per fill than 3000psi tanks. Based on pressure alone over 50% more shots per fill! 45000psi tanks are lighter because they are made from aluminum and a carbon fiber wrap.
This compact lightweight HPA tank is Globally Certified, which means it's approved for use in the USA, Canada and Europe. Many paintball and airsoft players use this with a remote line setup. Expect to get 450 to 850 shots per fill with your paintball marker or 1900 shots with your Tippmann M4 Carbine Airsoft Gun.
A 20-ounce CO2 paintball cylinder with a full charge (68% of its water capacity) When a fully charged, 68% full by water capacity, 20-ounce CO2 cylinder warms up to room temperature (70 oF), the pressure inside the cylinder is 837 psi.
Yes! Compressed air can be safely stored in a compressed air tank almost indefinitely, though a player who plans to travel with their compressed air bottle by airplane will have to first drain the tank, then remove the regulator to allow the TSA to visually inspect the inside of the bottle.
Paintball high pressure air tanks will need to be hydro tested every 3 or 5 years depending on the bottle manufacturer.
This consistency is key in paintball safety and reliability. Generally, using co2 like a propellant requires about 800 psi, while compressed air rarely runs above 180-200 psi. This puts less strain on air parts inside the marker itself and the compressed air tank.
Compressed air's main advantage is consistency. The more consistent pressure results in much more consistent performance. Compressed air is marginally affected by temperature, unlike CO2, making it great for cold weather and electronic guns. Most paintball fields charge for all-day compressed air fills.
Don't even try to use your tire pump or a standard air compressor—it won't work. Most of these compressors max out at 180 psi, and your paintball tanks require a minimum of 3,000 psi to fill.
For players using CO2, the best choice is a 20oz CO2 tank as this is the best combination of consistency, size and shots per tank available, though other sizes like 9oz CO2 tanks and 12oz paintball CO2 tanks are still available.
What size tank should I get for paintball?
For most new players it's good to look for a tank that can get around 600 shot you can get through a set of matches. There is a quick rule that can tell you how many shots you can get from a tank, simply multiply the volume by 12 for 3000 PSI tanks or 17 for 4500 PSI tanks.
...
Size | Shots |
---|---|
9-oz | 425 |
12-oz | 600 |
14-oz | 700 |
16-oz | 800 |

One of the best places to fill this type of tank is at a paintball store or a paintball field. Most stores and fields stock CO2 and have all the appropriate equipment to adequately fill without overfilling your tanks.
To refill with CO2, you will need a CO2 tank. These can be purchased from any welding supply store. You use the large tank to fill your smaller canisters. To fill a CO2 cartridge with air, you'll need a high-pressure air compressor.
The general standard is that when CO2 reaches 70 degrees Fahrenheit, the gas obtains a pressure of around 852.8 psi when contained in the cylinder or vessel.
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It is a great physical activity and provides interaction with family and friends while leaving the video games at home. Paintball is a team sport where children can practice social skills in an adventurous atmosphere that test their skills of running, diving behind bunkers and the challenge of winning.
5lb tanks average about 3 months. 10lb tanks average about 6 months. 20lb tanks average about s year.
It can cost about $25 to $40 to hydrotest a paintball tank. You might have to include shipping costs, which could be $10 to $30 if you're using an online service. If you opt to change your regulator, you could pay up to $70 to $90.
The cost of hydrostatic testing usually depends on the extent of the plumbing system being inspected. Most hydrostatic tests cost between $250 to $500. Bigger plumbing systems can cost thousands of dollars to be inspected.
Do aluminum air tanks expire?
Aluminum tanks may last upwards of 20-24 years. Anything around 2 Inches in Diameter or 2 feet in length will go under what players call the '2×2 rule. ' What this means is that hydro-exempt and re-hydrotesting it may not be required. You'll need to research based on your own model, but it's something to be aware of.
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Paintball guns shoot in Feet Per Second (FPS) and it is how we measure velocity. Safe velocity is between 220 and 280 FPS. Paintball goggles are rated to withstand 300FPS and paintballs themselves are made to shoot optimally between the same ranges.