“ These brands will break 30-60 % in the hottest , most humid conditions ,” Opie said . “ This paint should be stored in 60 to 80 degree temps at low humidity for optimum performance and can be used at temps as low as 50 degrees .”
The brittleness is not just about the shell . According to Muller , depending on weather conditions , the consistency of the fill is variable . The shell of a ball becomes brittle in lower temperatures , and thus winter fill has to be thicker to create higher internal pressure and stabilize the ball .
“ All paintballs should be kept sealed in their respective bags and boxes until use ,” Opie said . “ The purpose of the packaging is to maintain the temp and humidity of the paint for its best performance . If you open the box and bag and expose the paint to a hot , humid climate it will cause the balls to soften and swell which will result in less breaks on target and could lead to misfeeds due to ball shape or softness of the shell .”
“ On the flip side ,” he said , “ if they are exposed to cold , the paint could become too brittle or create dimples which leads to less accuracy and ball breaks .”
Pick the Right Ball for the Right Job
As we well know , weather is not the only variable in this sport . We have different styles of game play , as well . From the shell to the fill , there is a preferred and a recommended ball for every purpose . ( Note : if you ’ re new here , the type of paint you are using is denoted on a scale of Stars : 5-Star to 1-Star )
“ Five Star & Evil are made to be the most brittle [ shells ], sometimes custommade based on the event they will be used at and the expected climate at the time of use ,” he said . “ These products should be shot through midto high-end guns that are soft on paint , blowback guns will struggle as they are much tougher on paint . These should not be used in Magfed markers .”
He went on to explain the other grades .
“ Three Star , Four Star , Marbalizer , and Premium are made to perform in a wider range of conditions and markers .”
Muller agrees .
“ Five star paint is made from a virgin web , meaning that the gel used to make the ball is first-run ,” Muller said .
The gel is laid out into a sheet and the balls are punched from it before they are filled .
0108 paintball . media magazine