Leo Martínez
There are several types of paintballs used in paintball, differentiated by their grade, standard, size, and use. Paintballs are spherical gelatin capsules containing polyethylene glycol, non-toxic and water-soluble substances, and dye. They are made from food-grade materials and are edible but have an unpleasant taste. Paintballs come in various sizes, including 13mm (0.50 calibre) and 17mm (0.68 calibre), with the latter being the most common. Smaller paintballs are more environmentally friendly and suitable for children, while larger ones have a greater impact. Paintballs are also available in different grades, such as recreational, middle, and high grade, catering to different levels of players. Additionally, specialised paintballs like glow-in-the-dark, scented, and winter-formulated varieties add diversity to the game.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Grades | Recreational, Middle, High/Tournament |
| Caliber | 0.43-0.71, commonly 0.50 or 0.68 |
| Shape | Spherical, First Strike (unconventional) |
| Shell | Gelatin, Dark Green (HK Premier) |
| Filling | Polyethylene glycol, water-based dyes, sorbitol, canola oil, starch, food colouring |
| Eco-friendliness | Biodegradable, non-toxic, water-soluble, oil-based |
| Glow in the Dark | Yes |
| Scented | Yes |
| Winter Formulations | Yes |
| Pods | Plastic tubes, hold 10-140 paintballs |
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What You'll Learn
Paintball grades: recreational, mid, and high
Paintballs are spherical gelatin capsules containing polyethylene glycol, non-toxic and water-soluble substances, and dye. They are made from materials found in food items and are edible, although they taste disagreeable and can cause gastrointestinal distress.
There are three grades of paintballs: recreational, mid, and high. Recreational paintballs are also known as field or practice paintballs. They are harder, with thicker shells and thinner fills, and are commonly less round in shape, resulting in reduced accuracy. They are perfect for practice shooting.
Mid-grade paintballs are manufactured to higher quality control standards. They have thinner and more brittle shells, with slightly thicker paint fills. They are ideal for local tournaments and even big games. Paintball USA uses HK Army mid-grade paintballs that shoot well in all types of weather and are reliable, with a rounded shape, good performance shell, and bright colours.
Tournament-grade paintballs are the highest grade and are manufactured to the highest standards to ensure roundness and consistency, which assists with accuracy. They are more expensive and more brittle, with a thicker fill that is highly visible and vivid upon shooting. They should be stored correctly to ensure performance and longevity.
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Paintball sizes: 0.50 and 0.68 calibre are common
Paintballs come in a variety of sizes, though 0.68 calibre is the most common and is considered the standard size of paintballs. They are also versatile enough for various types of games and styles of fields and have great velocity and ''splat' when they hit other players. They are also more accurate over longer distances due to their increased mass providing stability in flight. However, 0.68 calibre paintballs are heavier, as are the guns made for them.
The second most common calibre of paintballs is 0.50. These are designed as lower-impact variations of the industry standard 0.68 calibre. Because they are smaller, they don't hurt as much when they strike a player, making them ideal for children's paintball parties. They are also more cost-effective than standard paintballs, as the guns that shoot them and the paintballs themselves typically cost less. They are also beneficial for scenario games and woodsball, as they can be used in areas of thick underbrush, which can be problematic with larger paintballs.
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Paintball shapes: spherical and First Strike
Paintballs are spherical gelatin capsules that contain water-soluble substances, dye, and polyethylene glycol. They are made from food items and are edible, albeit with a disagreeable taste. They are also non-toxic and biodegradable.
The standard paintball is hopper-fed and has a calibre of .68, although sizes can vary from calibre .43 to .71 (11mm to 18mm). Paintballs are seldom perfectly round and are sensitive to heat and moisture, so care must be taken to keep them away from the sun and moisture.
First Strike paintballs, on the other hand, are an innovative type of paintball that is gaining popularity among paintball enthusiasts who value stealth, accuracy, and precision. They have an unconventional shape, resembling an elongated capital D or a hemisphere with a convex leading edge and a cylindrical trailing edge. The trailing edge is stabilised by rifled fins, allowing for increased accuracy and a greater effective range of up to 150 yards (450 feet).
First Strike paintballs are generally magazine-fed and are compatible with specific paintball markers, including the Dye DAM, Spyder MR series, and Tiberius line. They are more rigid than standard paintballs, allowing them to be loaded into a magazine without breaking. However, they are slower to load and more expensive than traditional paintballs.
The choice between spherical and First Strike paintballs depends on the player's preferences, playing style, and equipment compatibility. Spherical paintballs are more traditional and widely used, while First Strike paintballs offer improved accuracy and range but require specialised markers and careful loading.
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Paintball ingredients: gelatin, polyethylene glycol, dye
Paintballs are spherical gelatin capsules that contain primarily polyethylene glycol, water, starch, and dye. They are designed to be biodegradable and environmentally safe due to their non-toxic ingredients.
Gelatin is a common material used in medicine capsules, and it is non-toxic and biodegradable. The gelatin shell of a paintball is designed to break upon impact, releasing the fill material that "marks" the player.
Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is an inert ingredient commonly used as a thickener in liquid medicines. It is also a laxative, so consuming a large number of paintballs may cause gastrointestinal distress. PEG forms the base liquid ingredient for the fill, comprising between 45% and 65% of the fill material.
Starch is also a significant component of paintballs, comprising between 25% and 45% of the fill material. It acts as a thickener and provides a non-stick surface on the paintball, reducing friction during loading and in the gun barrel.
Dye is a crucial ingredient in paintballs, providing the colour that creates the "paint" indicator when a paintball breaks on impact. The amount of dye used is minimal, typically up to 0.5%.
Other ingredients may be included in paintballs, such as sorbitol, glycerine, canola oil, food-grade wax, and corn starch. These substances may act as thickeners, emulsifiers, or stabilizers. While paintballs are technically edible, they are not meant to be consumed and have a disagreeable taste due to the high PEG content.
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Paintball types: washable, eco-friendly, oil-based
Paintballs are spherical gelatin capsules containing primarily polyethylene glycol, other non-toxic and water-soluble substances, and dye. They are made of food-grade materials and are edible, although they taste disagreeable and can cause gastrointestinal distress.
Paintballs are of different grades, standards, and sizes. The most common paintballs and paintball markers are described as ".68 caliber (17.3 mm), but they vary in size from ".43 caliber to .71 caliber (11 mm to 18 mm). They also come in different shapes, like the First Strike paintballs, which are not fully round but fly further and more accurately.
There are washable, eco-friendly, and oil-based paintballs. The shell of a paintball is made of biodegradable gelatin, which dissolves over time. The paint inside can be water-soluble dye, which is environmentally safe and poses no problems. These paintballs are also called PEG paintballs and are washable. They are widely available at paintball and adventure hobby retail outlets.
However, some paintballs contain oil-based paints, which are not recommended. They are harsher on guns and equipment and can be harmful to the environment and animals that may ingest them. They are usually cheaper paintballs or seconds.
To ensure the best experience and safety, it is important to choose high-quality paintballs that are environmentally friendly and washable.
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Frequently asked questions
There are many types of paintballs, with different grades, standards, sizes, and uses.
Paintballs can be divided into three grade levels: recreational field and practice, middle grade for rental and custom markers, and high grade for tournament players using custom guns.
Paintballs are spherical gelatin capsules containing primarily polyethylene glycol, other non-toxic and water-soluble substances, and dye. They are made of food-grade materials and are edible but have an unpleasant taste and can cause gastrointestinal distress.
Examples of different types of paintballs include glow-in-the-dark paintballs, scented paintballs, First Strike paintballs, and winter-formulated paintballs. Paintballs also vary in size, with the most common caliber being 0.68, while some sites use 0.50 caliber paintballs.
