Air systems
- Thread starter jackaroo
- Start date
carbon fibre bottles can fill to 4500- 5000 psi so more air pressure equals more shots, steels fill to 3000 psi
carbon bottles will have a better more sophisticated regulator on, as it works on higher psi basically more shots better air flow dependant on reg and lighter weight.
carbon bottles will have a better more sophisticated regulator on, as it works on higher psi basically more shots better air flow dependant on reg and lighter weight.
Steel bottles are very rare nowadays, the bottles people call steelies are actually aluminium. As said above they can only be filled to 3000 psi and are a lot heavier than fibre wrap bottles.
You can get fibre wrapped bottles which are only rated to 3000psi as well so you need to be aware of that if buying second hand.
Bottle regulators are all basically the same design internally, a 4500psi reg is no more sophisticated than a 3000psi reg, they're all basically a piston with seals and a spring/spring washers. The only difference between regulators are physical size and build quality, apart from their input and out put pressures.
You can get fibre wrapped bottles which are only rated to 3000psi as well so you need to be aware of that if buying second hand.
Bottle regulators are all basically the same design internally, a 4500psi reg is no more sophisticated than a 3000psi reg, they're all basically a piston with seals and a spring/spring washers. The only difference between regulators are physical size and build quality, apart from their input and out put pressures.
Very hard to say without knowing where and what type of events you're going to be playing. For example, if you're only going to be playing walkons at your local site and they only have 3000psi fills then there's not much point in buying a 4500psi bottle.
If in doubt get a standard 3000psi cylinder - it can be used anywhere (other than co2 only sites!)
When you know any specific needs and have had a feel for it then consider going to a fibre 4500 cylinder - once you know if you will have the benefit of 4500 fills and you have checked out a few to see how they feel and 'fit' you
When you know any specific needs and have had a feel for it then consider going to a fibre 4500 cylinder - once you know if you will have the benefit of 4500 fills and you have checked out a few to see how they feel and 'fit' you
A 1.1L / 68ci bottle at 3000psi gives a much higher shot count than a 0.8L / 48ci at same pressure
Go for bigger capacity if possible or expect to fill up a lot, or possibly run out of air mid game
Go for bigger capacity if possible or expect to fill up a lot, or possibly run out of air mid game
Remember that bigger cylinders come at more expense.
Use the shot calculator to estimate consumption - the shot count won't be 100% right for a particular gun, but it will give good relative comparisons between sizes and pressures.
Enter the cylinder capacity in cubic inches
http://www.scubatoys.com/paintball/paintballshots.asp
EG
standard 3000 psi 0.8 litre = 48ci
1.1 litre = 68ci
1.5 litre = 91ci
Due to the capacity you have just under 50% more when comparing 0.8 and 1.1, or nearly double when comparing 0.8 and 1.5
(Actual cc capacities may vary - remember the litre capacity is a rough value, if you want to know for sure then check the cylinders markings - but you may find a conflict such as 88ci and 1.5 litre marked on the cylinder, which don't add up so it would realy be 88ci and just under 1.5 litre)
At £30 to £40 for a standard cylinder and £150 for a 1.1 or 1.5 then you could get 5 times as much capacity for the £150 by just buying multiple cylinders.
Think about the games you play and the paint you carry.
At normal games such as rentals or walkons you tend to play for 15 or 30 minutes, sometimes an hour
You will be eliminated at some point so may not play the full game
Some sites these days have fill stations in the field, either as mini safe zones or by bringing out a scuba cylinder and fill rig.
If you can go out carrying the paint you will shoot, and the air to shoot it then you are ready
When you go back to the safe zone air up and pod up before you socialise and tell your war stories - or pod while talking
Use the shot calculator to estimate consumption - the shot count won't be 100% right for a particular gun, but it will give good relative comparisons between sizes and pressures.
Enter the cylinder capacity in cubic inches
http://www.scubatoys.com/paintball/paintballshots.asp
EG
standard 3000 psi 0.8 litre = 48ci
1.1 litre = 68ci
1.5 litre = 91ci
Due to the capacity you have just under 50% more when comparing 0.8 and 1.1, or nearly double when comparing 0.8 and 1.5
(Actual cc capacities may vary - remember the litre capacity is a rough value, if you want to know for sure then check the cylinders markings - but you may find a conflict such as 88ci and 1.5 litre marked on the cylinder, which don't add up so it would realy be 88ci and just under 1.5 litre)
At £30 to £40 for a standard cylinder and £150 for a 1.1 or 1.5 then you could get 5 times as much capacity for the £150 by just buying multiple cylinders.
Think about the games you play and the paint you carry.
At normal games such as rentals or walkons you tend to play for 15 or 30 minutes, sometimes an hour
You will be eliminated at some point so may not play the full game
Some sites these days have fill stations in the field, either as mini safe zones or by bringing out a scuba cylinder and fill rig.
If you can go out carrying the paint you will shoot, and the air to shoot it then you are ready
When you go back to the safe zone air up and pod up before you socialise and tell your war stories - or pod while talking