Quality Paintballs

[PhantomPhan]

Returning to the sport after about 8-10 years off. I have an empire axe, 2 phantoms, and a trracer. What are popular options for good quality paintballs these days? Playing the pumps, I want to make sure I am getting something that works well and doesn't lead to a lot of breakage. Thanks in advance.

[glaman5266]

I find Graffiti to be a little above average. Not great, but better than most field paint.
I shot some Empire Evil a couple weeks ago. Shot well. Best paint I've shot in a while. My only complaint is they started to sweat when they warmed up. Badly. Dumped a hopper because I thought I had a break in it but found no break. Keep them in the shade and they'll be fine though. Good stuff.

[MrKittyCatMeowFace]

Returning to the sport after about 8-10 years off. I have an empire axe, 2 phantoms, and a trracer. What are popular options for good quality paintballs these days? Playing the pumps, I want to make sure I am getting something that works well and doesn't lead to a lot of breakage. Thanks in advance.

Well dont you want breakage.

nah but you should worry about breaking paint in your axe or phantom. Both are soft on paint. Defy makes good stuff, lv1 is fine. Round and clean is all that matters to me. Cool you get to byop, my field allows it but they got such a good deal its not worth the trouble of having it shipped to me and being ruined.

[Jonnydread]

Hard disagree on the Phantom being soft on paint. I have found Nelsons in general to be as hard on paint as blowbacks.

[Siress]

(oops... this is already covered below... please ignore)
Any breech drop gun is hard on paint, and any HP gun is hard on paint. The Phantom is both breech drop and HP. It's hard on paint.

[OpusX]

Agree with D3fy for paint, it has treated me well, been consistently sized and actually breaks on target.

[Jonnydread]

The problem with paint is it's going to vary depending on how old it is, how it was stored, rotated etc...

The GI paint that the local pay-to-play fields use is pretty dimply and leaves something to be desired. The exact same paint that we use at the outlaw field shoots much better because it's stored and rotated properly.

I am a huge fan of Nelson Anarchy, but it's not available these days unless you're willing to order a shit load of it.

[Siress]

Hol' up. You're telling me there's a chance? I'd buy several cases of Anarchy Upheaval if we can get a group order going.

[Jonnydread]

Siress - I've been ordering the 'seconds' option directly from Nelson. It's always a mixed bag, but occasionally I'll get Anarchy and it great. I believe they do special orders, but you need to order something like 40 cases at a minimum.

[MrKittyCatMeowFace]

The problem with paint is it's going to vary depending on how old it is, how it was stored, rotated etc...

The GI paint that the local pay-to-play fields use is pretty dimply and leaves something to be desired. The exact same paint that we use at the outlaw field shoots much better because it's stored and rotated properly.

I am a huge fan of Nelson Anarchy, but it's not available these days unless you're willing to order a shit load of it.

Hows a nelson hard on paint? Its a pump, just dont slam the bolt forward hard. Idk how they could be hard on paint. Atleast My tigershark isn't.

yeah paint needs to rotate to prevent flat-spots and stay at room temperature to prevent deforming too.

[Jonnydread]

Hows a nelson hard on paint? Its a pump, just dont slam the bolt forward hard. Idk how they could be hard on paint.

They're high pressure and many of them have an open bolt face, this can translate into barrel breaks with more fragile paint. Even with gentle pump action the operation of the gun isn't soft on paint.

[MrKittyCatMeowFace]

They're high pressure and many of them have an open bolt face, this can translate into barrel breaks with more fragile paint. Even with gentle pump action the operation of the gun isn't soft on paint.

Makes sense. My tigershark probably never will hit 280fps so maybe thats why. I run a electrical tape detent. I assume running a to tight of a underbore could cause issues too.

[Jonnydread]

Makes sense. My tigershark probably never will hit 280fps so maybe thats why. I run a electrical tape detent. I assume running a to tight of a underbore could cause issues too.

Honestly it can really vary from gun-to-gun. I had an old Wintec pump that never broke paint and it was as janky as they come, while my Hammer with a dummy detent and overbore likes to break paint like I break wind. Supposedly a medium underbore doesn't break paint any more than a match or overbore, but anecdotally my tighter bores seem to struggle with fragile paint. Who knows man, it's the frickin' fairies mucking with stuff.

[OpusX]

Well if you'd just provide the sacrificial offering of a 10 round tube of paint to Velcor before the day of play begins, you wouldn't have breaks ;-)

[Seajay]

I've decided If you are stuck with field only paint just ask to see the paint. Figure out which option you like and pay for it. Sometimes the base field paint isn't bad, and sometimes you pay for the "premium" option. You'll shoot less and win more with the paint that works, and just have a better day.

[Chappy]

The problem with paint is it's going to vary depending on how old it is, how it was stored, rotated etc...

Truth. I avoid big box Store paint on the whole. But back in the day it was our only option. So we cleaned out the Walmart of visible impact as that was the best we could find locally. Once they started keeping fresh stock it was actually really good paint, still high on my list of stuff I’ve used. Anyway just goes to show how important storage and freshness is.

[Axel]

D3fy is incredible. A real alternative to the same old same old, if you can use it

[Magmoormaster]

If you're anywhere west of the Rocky Mountains, I'd highly recommend HK Army paint. Every level of paint they sell performs above their price point. Their $40 box of paint shoots like a $50 box of paint, and so on.

[PhantomPhan]

West Coast based. Good input all thanks for the perspectives.