Is CO2 obsolete

[NJPaint]

Hi All,
My questions are:

1. Will the 68 auto mag level 7 work with nitrogen or compressed air? My guess is it can't because its design will only allow a max of 350psi before the safty valve kicks in.

2. Will CO2 eventually become obsolete? I am guessing it will as the demand for better performance increases.

3. Do paintball guns really perform better on compressed air and nitrogen than guns with CO2? Probably a dumb question because it appears I just answered that, however, I would like to get a consensus.

4. Should the average consumer, who might become a serious PB player, lean towards buying a starter gun that is powered by nitrogen or compressed air?


King

#1 The max input into a 68 classic valve is 3000 psi, no I didn't add an extra 0. I wouldn't recommend it, but it has a built in regulator and you can put that much air into it.

#2 Yes, it will be, it is already becoming that way with the newer fields not having CO2 available.

#3 Yes, HPA is significantly more consistant than CO2. I could go into the physics, but think about it this way. CO2 phase changes, liquid to gas, HPA stays a gas always. It doesn't have huge fluctuations based on temperature.

#4 All players that will play more than once in a while in their backyard should consider HPA as opposed to CO2. Its cheaper usually with all day air and will always perform better.

[TheLaxPlayer]

The only time I have ever had trouble with CO2 is when it is in the 50's or colder. CO2 seems quite consistant on my Lvl 7 mag. Since I don't play much in the cold anyways, and cannot even come close to freezing my valve unless it is pointed at the ground (so liquid is pushed in).

HPA is better, but CO2 is far from being obsolete. It's like having a Ford Taurus (CO2) versus having a Jaguar. There is nothing wrong with the Ford, but there is something better out there.

[Pacifist_Farmer]

Yoh dude,

I think the meaning of the title was well understood by the general populace of this forum.

Its not an English class but a PB forum!!

Nice wast of a reply btw...

King

touche

Edit:

I've noticed that I have a much easier time maintaining/running/adjusting my classic mag when I run CO2, as compared with HPA

The ability to run both mediums in a setup is golden, it makes using different fields, or even rogue ball hassel free, i say everyones first gun should run on both

[frop]

The only time I have ever had trouble with CO2 is when it is in the 50's or colder. CO2 seems quite consistant on my Lvl 7 mag. Since I don't play much in the cold anyways, and cannot even come close to freezing my valve unless it is pointed at the ground (so liquid is pushed in).

HPA is better, but CO2 is far from being obsolete. It's like having a Ford Taurus (CO2) versus having a Jaguar. There is nothing wrong with the Ford, but there is something better out there.

No, it's like a 1968 Malibu vs. a 2005 Malibu. One can argue semantics & individual characteristics, but the fact remains that the '68 is 'obsolete'.

[TheLaxPlayer]

Do what you want, and say what you want, but I'm keeping my steel, CO2 powered Mag.

[king4eternity]

Rock on!!

King

[minimag03]

I use co2 with my minimag with now problem. You guys have to remember that co2 was what the Automag was originally designed to work with. A major advantage of co2 that I have seen it that the tanks are smaller than compressed air.

minimag03

[WineShark]

I used CO2 on my mag quite successfully. I used a Palmer Stabilizer to keep the liquid out, and it performed well. I used a 68-3000 crossfire too.

The key on when I switched was shot count. My 68-3000 got a whole lot less shots per fill (500-600) than a 12oz CO2. (800+)

So during rec play and short games, the HPA rocked. During scenarios, I popped on the CO2 and redialed and was good to go.

Performance issues aside (HPA has a total advantage there) the issue was volume for: 68- or 88-4500s aren't cheap, although they are getting more reasonable.

Since I have the palmer, I feel pretty safe using preset regulated HPA tanks and still getting good consistency. Now the question is how much will I gain from going to 4500?

[nate2k191]

CO2 blew on my mag, frosty bolt all the time, paint chops, non-consistant firing, constant worries.. more crap

HPA was tons better, i never worried about anything air related, it was no longer a problem.


in the end CO2 is not worthless, you use it when u cant afford an HPA tank.

[CoolHand]

CO2 is not dead, and never will be . . . . . at least not until I am.

You just have to be smarter than the average PB'er to make it work in some situations.

That said, the Mag is not the best friend of CO2. Classics deal with it just fine, and XValves will take it for slow speed stuff (ROF, not muzzle velocity), but the Mag's prefered operating pressure is right on the ragged edge of where CO2 wants to become liquid.

Its not undoable, its just harder . . . . . . . . . . so for most people, its undoable.

Have a good Holiday.

[DaveSM]

The only problem with CO2 is that it freeze o-rings. If it was always at ambient temperature and always a gaz we wouldn't have any problems with CO2. Some markers work great on CO2 and at winter you could use a siphon tank to avoid problems such as slow recharge rate when using CO2. Mags just aren't CO2 friendly as much as some other markers. I already heard of an impulse that was running on CO2 so everything is possible with both gas. Another thing is that if you get CO2 to a lower pressure then the one at wich it become liquid (usually said to be 600 psi) you will never get liquid CO2 in your setup. CO2 and HPA both have their positives and negatives it's up to you to choose wich one you use.

[warbeak2099]

Hell, I've heard of a Timmy running on C02. Dual palmers stabilizers, anti-siphon line, maybe a little CMI/CORE mini x-chamber in between the tank and the asa/female stabilizer. Now that's optimum co2 usage. Sure, you could run most any gun on co2. It's just a matter of controlling it.... and not frying the noid.

[CoolHand]

You are both right, which is why I tend to favor LP guns. Its not hype, its just the nature of my prefered (or rather mandated) propellant.

That would also be why I only own a Classic Mag. Its not cause XValves are not cool ('cause they definitely are), but I can't shoot them as fast on CO2 as I can the Classic.

I also agree that HPA is the easier (and therefore in most cases better) of the two.

Have a good holiday guys.

[trains are bad]

You are both right, which is why I tend to favor LP guns. Its not hype, its just the nature of my prefered (or rather mandated) propellant.

This is true. On hpa, low pressure is hype. On co2, it's most certainly not.