Nitrogen and HPA are two gasses which are used to fill paintball tanks. The paintball group is confused concerning the distinction between Nitrogen and HPA, and for good motive. They each have the very same operate!
The Distinction
HPA is just “compressed air,” which is one other time period thrown round by paintball gamers. Compressed air is what it appears like, it’s good ol’ pure respiration air, however condensed right into a extra pressurized state. The air we breath incorporates roughly 78.2% nitrogen, in fact the quantity of nitrogen varies relying on explicit environments. However as a common rule, air with 78.2% nitrogen is what’s used for HPA paintball tanks.
If a paintball participant says that he’s utilizing nitrogen in his paintball tank, he’s in all probability utilizing HPA, which incorporates nitrogen. However, some gamers use pure nitrogen of their paintball tank. Actually, nitrogen was the staple gasoline used for all skilled paintballers, lengthy earlier than compressed air ever got here onto the scene. In 1994, Phil Davies found that if air is condensed, it may be utilized in paintball weapons, as effectively as pure nitrogen gasoline. This was a significant step for paintball tanks as a result of pure nitrogen is dear, and significantly extra uncommon to search out.
Why Many Paintball Gamers Say They Use Nitrogen?
There are two most important causes for the survival of “nitrogen” as a paintball time period.
1- Outdated gamers by no means stopped referring to their paintball air as nitrogen, even when its not. Thus, maintaining the phrase within the paintball group vocabulary. And since there’s little or no efficiency distinction between HPA and nitrogen, many aged gamers see no distinction to vary their phrases.
2- Some individuals take into account “nitrogen” a cooler phrase than “HPA.” That is particularly the case when “nitrogen” is shortened to “nitro.” Many present paintball gamers are extraordinarily annoyed by this, in any case, Excessive Stress air just isn’t too shabby of a reputation. The purpose is “nitrogen” is right here to remain.
Efficiency Distinction
There’s a slight efficiency distinction, however not sufficient to be that noticeable. HPA is pressured to waste over 20% of its content material. This isn’t as large of a deal because it sounds. Pure nitrogen will allow you to have extra paintball photographs per refill, and can be very barely, extra constant.
That being stated, some paintball fields nonetheless supply nitrogen, as an alternative of HPA, as a result of some gamers adamantly imagine that nitrogen is significantly higher. In case you have the chance to check out pure nitrogen in your paintball tank, give it a go! I might actually not discover a distinction in any way, however some individuals swear by it.
Is There a Distinction Between a Nitrogen or HPA Paintball Tank?
There may be not! Some gamers have instructed me that one is best than the opposite. However guys! These should not two separate entities. There isn’t any such factor as a nitrogen and HPA paintball tank. Once I say they’re the very same factor, I imply that they’re, one and the identical factor. A paintball tank that’s appropriate with nitrogen consumption will have the ability to be full of nitrogen gasoline, or compressed air. You may name the tank no matter you need, however it’s merely a tank that’s appropriate with nitrogen.
There are solely two kinds of paintball tanks, one is for Co2, the opposite is for nitrogen or HPA.
Conclusion
Nitrogen and HPA are utilized in the identical approach, for the exact same paintball tanks. Some gamers declare that nitrogen is a superior gasoline, however most gamers don’t discover a distinction between the 2. HPA is cheaper than nitrogen, and for that motive alone, HPA has taken over because the gasoline mostly used on the paintball fields.
The phrase “nitrogen” stays in paintball terminology due to its historical past in our sport, and since some individuals nonetheless use it.
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