Paintball Gun Care

• Familiarize yourself with how to tear down your gun. Download the exploded diagram and manual from the manufacturer. Get real good at the tear down part of your marker. This will be invaluable when you need to fix something to keep going on game day. Get to where you can do this on your sleep or poor light. If someone where to tear down your marker and give you back all the parts can you put it back together? You should be able to. Know the name of the all the parts in your marker and their function, because you may have to order replacement parts when things go wrong as they do form time to time.
• Clean gun after every paintball game day. This means the same day you play, even if you did not break a ball in the gun. CLEAN IT! You would be surprised the air bourne dirt that can get into a marker and destroy it.
• Always make sure to properly lubricate your gun. In many markers failing to lubricate it will result in it not firing, failing to re cock, excessive gas consumption, breaking balls, and the list goes on. Lubricate your marker. 2-3 drops per o-ring with approved lubricant. Do not use 3-in-1, cutting oils, or gun oils, these are good for their specific application and not paintball markers. Do not be sloppy about your oiling. If oil gets to the paintball it will hook uncontrollably and unpredictably. Always follow manufacturers recommendations for lubricant amount and type.
• Charge batteries needed for gear. (Electros and powered hoppers) Failing to do this can result in a battery that will fail to charge when you try to charge it later before a big game. Always charge them the same day you run them down or use them. On top of the fact that you should be worried about things other are my batteries all charged up?
• Get a stand for your gun. Everyday crimes are committed by laying a marker down on the ground or other surface. Did you really pay all that money for all of that gear and not have a proper stand for it? Leave it lay around so that tiny piece of sand between it and the table top can eat up the side of your gun while your buddies inadvertently keep moving the picnic table its on? These will keep your marker from damage and make it easier to load depending on the type of stand. Plus they just make sense.
• Deplete air and know what you have left. As time goes you will get to know how many shots you can get from one fill. HPA does not count on this subject as it can be filled when half full. CO2 can not. These tanks must be empty before filling. So, if you have a minimal amount of air left in your CO2 tank (less than a hopper worth) then expel it. You will need the tank empty for the next fill right. The next time you go out do you want to play 1/2 a game and head back for air? No.. Then make sure your tanks are empty and ready to fill when game day comes.
• Get a case for your gun. Plano offers a “4 pistol case” to help with this. This case is meant for real handguns but does have the proper space for a paintball marker and other small gear. It has lower level foam section that can be cut to hold multiple barrels and keep stuff from clanging together. If your gear can touch each other when in a duffle bag it will grind against each other and ruining two pieces of equipment for the action of one. Show them at the field you are serious about your game and get a good case for your marker

Keeping your gear clean will make it last for many years. Plus it will raise it’s resale value when you can sell it and say “Like new” or “Gently Used”.