How Far Do Paintball Guns Shoot?
Have you ever played paintball? It’s a lot of fun, but did you know that guns can shoot pretty far? In this blog post, we’re going to take a look at how far paintball guns can shoot and some of the things you need to keep in mind when choosing your next paintball gun. Let’s get started!
How Far Do Paintball Guns Shoot?
Paintball guns range is around 80-100 feet on average but can shoot as far as 200 feet. The most important factors that determine the distance a paintball gun shoots are:
- Pressure of the Marker
- Quality of Paintballs
- Temperature and Humidity
- Wind Direction and Strength
- Other Things That Affect Distance
Pressure of the Marker
The force used to launch the paintball marker is called “pressure”. The pressure of the marker is measured in “BAR”, which stands for “Pounds per Square Inch” and usually ranges from 150 PSI to 400 PSI.
Higher pressure markers can shoot a projectile further because more kinetic energy will be imparted on the ball as it leaves the barrel. In recent years, the technology behind paintball guns has allowed for higher pressure markers to be made that shoot efficiently and give a great firing distance without being too loud or hard on paintballs.
Quality of Paintballs
The quality of paintballs can make a difference as well because if they are old or defective, then they won’t fly as far or will be harder to shoot.
Temperature and Humidity
The temperature and humidity also play a role in the distance a marker can shoot because if the air is colder, it will decrease the pressure allowing for further shots until the air warms up from being compressed from the projectile. If you find that your shots are shorter in distance on a hot day, then the air may simply be denser which decreases the amount of kinetic energy imparted on the ball.
Wind Direction and Strength
Paintball markers will shoot differently depending on where the wind is coming from and how strong it is blowing. For example, if a paintball marker faces directly into a 20mph headwind, its shots will be shorter because the wind exerts a counteracting force that slows down the ball as it leaves the barrel.
Also, if you shoot into a 20mph side wind, your shots can actually go much longer because the wind is pushing against the ball and helping to keep its kinetic energy constant so it doesn’t slow down as quickly.
Other Things That Affect Distance
There are a number of other things that can affect the distance a paintball marker shoots. Generally speaking, if you have more surface area on the ball being shot from your gun, then it will go further because there is more material to push against the air as it leaves the barrel. Some markers also shoot with a flatter trajectory which allows for a longer shot as well.
Summary
Paintball guns generally shoot between 80 and 100 feet on average but can shoot more than 200 feet if they have a higher pressure tank, high quality paintballs, and are shooting into no wind or side wind. You can increase your marker’s range by using lower pressure tanks and by having a gun with a flatter trajectory and/or more surface area on the paintballs.
Thanks for reading and we hope you found this blog post useful! If you’re looking to purchase a paintball marker, then try these top picks!
