Getting Back Into the Mix!!!

We have taken a hiatus from paintball over the past few months due to disgusting weather.  April is almost here which makes perfect temperatures for all day paintball play!  So what needs to be done to prepare for the upcoming season?

More after the break.

Paintball is not only about gun maintenance.  A lot of little things can hinder your performance on the field.  Let's discuss some of those now.

1.  Gun Maintenance:  Most paintball guns today are owner maintenance friendly.  If you do not know how to clean/lube your gun yourself you can easily find instructions online to do it.  If not, take your gun to the nearest paintball store with a gunsmith that you have researched and know is trustworthy.  A happy gun means many welts on your opponents.

2.  Hopper Maintenance:  Clean the inside of your hopper to make sure that it is clear of debris.  Also make sure that the eye on your hopper is clean so that balls feed when you need them.  This could mean the difference of a kill or a splat on your mask!  The Dye Rotor is what I use and is the easiest hopper to clean on the market today.

3.  Tank:  There is not much you can do yourself in regards to your tank and the maintenance it needs.  The most you can do is fill it and listen for leaks.  Also make sure that your hydro test is up to date or you may be getting to the field and not being able to play due to an expired tank.  Trust me, it sucks.

4.  Barrel Maintenance:  A drunk monkey could figure this out but make sure that your barrell is clear of debris and has no scratches in the bore.  Easiest way to clean your barrells is to fill a sink with hot water and dishwasher soap, let your barrells soak in there for a few minutes, and then run a squeege through a few times.  Happy barrell = straight shooting paint.

5.  Pack/Tubes:  You should clean all of this stuff after you play but if you hadn't then make sure you look at this before going out.  Junk in your tubes can contaminate your paint and make balls bust in your pods.  You just then threw away 200+ paintballs.  Also make sure your pack's velcro is working as intended or you may be losing your pods.

6.  Mask Maintenance:  Your mask is the singlemost important safety equipment piece in your arsenal.  Make sure that the lens is clean and has a limited number of scratches and NO CRACKS.  If there is a crack then throw the lense away and buy another.  If you like to see, you will take this advice!

After all of these items are completed you are ready to play!  Enjoy a great summer of paintball and maybe we'll see you out there.  As always, happy hunting!