How to Calibrate a Paintball Gun

Check how fast paintballs are flying out of your paintball gun to make sure you are playing safely and fairly in accordance with rules set by the International Paintball Players Association.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Realize that paintball is more fun and safe when everyone's paintball gun is firing at regulated speeds.

2. Locate a radar chronograph. If you play with a group of people, you might all contribute and purchase one. Otherwise you can use one at your local store or paintball field.

3. Fire three shots over the chronograph.

4. Read the speed on the chronograph. Chronographs measure feet per second (fps). All three shots should fire about the same speed. The shots should be around 300 fps.

5. Adjust the air regulator on your paintgun as necessary, and then rechronograph.

6. Play only when all players' paintball guns are firing at the proper speed.

Tips & Warnings

• Paintguns fire harder in higher temperatures. If you chronograph your paintguns in the early morning, rechronograph everyone's paintguns by the afternoon.
• Always wear eye protection around paintguns - even when using the chronograph.
• Beware of players who may turn their guns up after chronographing. This is a very nasty trick. If you think someone is shooting too hot, call him or her on it and rechronograph the paintgun. Anyone caught turning up after passing the chronograph will be barred from the field.

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[strawberryshort]

on 10/11/2009 Can someone please tell me where I can find any laws about paintball guns safety, etc. Someone is arguing with me that it is ok to go driving around and shoot at deer. They argue that it is not considered a lethal weapon, which probably isn't, but still don't give him the right. Please help!

on 9/12/2006 Paintballs do not swell when you freeze them, they swell when it is hot and humid. Frozen paintballs are still unsafe, and their quality is badly degraded due to dimples and such, so don't do it.

on 8/8/2006 I shot a marble and my CO2 canister got hot! I took it off an hour later and the gun itself hissed, now the point my gun is seriously messed up.

on 8/8/2006 Most frozen paintballs will swell and will not fit through a barrel properly.

on 6/30/2006 When calibrating your paintball marker (called chronoing at fields), you should always set the velocity below 300 fps. Paintball protective equipment (IE. the mask) is designed to work at 300 fps and below. A hit in the mask above 300 fps could damage the lens, cause failure on a later hit and result in serious eye injury.