Do All Paintballs Fit All Guns?

Paintball is an exciting and fun team-shooting sport that’s becoming popular around the world. If you want to take part in the sport, you need to have a paintball gun and paintballs that fit it. 

So, do all paintballs fit all guns? No, not all paintballs fit all guns. Paintballs come in various sizes, and not all of them will fit the different gun sizes that are available for purchase. 

In this article, you are going to learn about the different paintball sizes and how to choose the correct paintball size for your gun. 

What Is the Most Common Caliber of Paintball?

The term ‘caliber‘ refers to the diameter of the paintball in inches. Paintballs come in varying sizes ranging from .43 to .71 caliber, depending on the climate, manufacturer, and quality. But the most common paintball size is the .68 caliber, which is considered to be the standard size found in the market.

What Paintball Size Should You Get?

Although the .68 caliber paintball is the standard, it is still important to consider the type of game you want to play as well as the size of your paintball gun. 

Below is a comparison of the .68 caliber paintball to another common size: the .50 caliber paintball.

The .68 caliber paintball

Most experienced players prefer the .68 caliber paintball because it’s versatile and can be used in most games. It’s also ideal for indoor and outdoor fields of different layouts and sizes.

More importantly, .68 caliber paintball also has great velocity and an amazing ‘splat’ effect upon hitting the opponent.

The only downside of the .68 caliber is its weight. Compared to the .50 caliber, the paintball itself is heavier, along with the paintball markers that hold them. 

This extra weight could become a problem for beginners and kids because they don’t have the experience to handle them. Also, these paintballs can potentially hurt more when they hit an opponent. 

On the other hand, experienced players may have enough shooting practice to avoid problems.

The .50 caliber paintball 

The .50 caliber paintball, which is often called a ‘low impact’ paintball, has recently become popular amongst paintball players.

Due to its smaller size, it will hurt less when it hits the opponent, making it perfect for beginners and kids between the ages of 10 to 12. It is also an excellent option for indoor fields and recreational games.

The downside is that they are only half an inch in diameter, which means you will experience reduced velocity. It will also travel a lesser distance compared to the .68 caliber. Also, the .50 caliber won’t break after hitting the target. However, it can still go into the marker, and you don’t have to pause during a match as often to reload.

Aside from the .68 and .50 caliber, there are other types of paintballs that you should consider when choosing the right one:

Recreation Paintballs

These paintballs have a stronger and thicker shell and can be used on any paintball gun that is of the correct size. They are also affordable because of their slightly inconsistent shape.  

Tournament-Grade Paintballs 

Tournament-grade paintballs have a thinner shell, which means they can travel more efficiently and consistently. They are often used with high-end paintball guns and in professional tournaments. 

Now that you’ve chosen your paintball size, it is also important to select a suitable barrel for it: 

What Is The Most Common Paintball Barrel Bore Size?

‘Barrel Bore Size’ is the inside diameter of the paintball marker barrel. Contrary to what many people believe, the size of the barrel bore and paintball are usually not the same. 

There are two popular paintball bore sizes: the .685 caliber, and the .689 caliber. Between these two, the .685 caliber is considered to be the most common bore size.

It’s essential to choose the right bore size as this plays a critical role in improving your accuracy. 

To select the correct bore size, place a paintball inside the barrel; if it rolls out easily, it’s too small, and if it gets stuck, it’s too big. 

Therefore, it would be best if you only bought either the .685 caliber or the .689 caliber. Buying both isn’t a good idea, as your paintballs will only fit one of the two sizes. 

How to Buy the Right-Sized Paintballs

Here are a few more tips you need to keep in mind when looking for the right paintballs:

Do Your Homework

You need to do your research before buying paintballs for your paintball gun as choosing the wrong size or type can make the experience unpleasant. 

Since paintballs vary in size and quality, the first step you need to take is to determine the kind of paintball caliber you need. You can find this information in your paintball gun’s user manual. 

Some brands of paintball work better than others. Therefore, you may want to visit paintballing forums to see what balls other players are using in their guns. 

Check the Price 

You also need to research the costs of the paintballs as it varies from one manufacturer to another. There are different quality options out there, from cheaper recreation options to more expensive, tournament-grade paintballs.

If you’re still training, it’s preferred to practice with cheaper used paintballs that can you can buy through various e-commerce sites. 

Additional tips

Here are a few extra pointers to consider when buying paintballs:

• Rounder paintballs travel in a straighter line than paintballs with an irregular shape.
• Test how hard the balls are before purchasing. Often, paintballs turn soft when exposed to moisture. 
• If you’ve not purchased a paintball marker yet, choose one that meets your budget criteria and your level of experience. 
• If you already have a paintball marker, use the caliber of the marker to help you choose a paintball size.
• You can use a conversion kit to modify any paintball marker from .68 to .50 inches and vice versa.
• Don’t pick up paintballs from the ground and put them into the loader. The dirt on these ground-sourced paintballs can clog the barrel and affect your gun’s ability to fire.
• For the best shots, use fresh paintballs. You want the paintballs to break after hitting your opponent, not before. 
• If you are not sure about which paintball to use, you can go to the various discussions on online forums and ask other players for opinions and advice. You’ll find that there are users who have the same paintball gun as you, so they might be in a better position to advise you on many things regarding the correct paintballs to use.

Conclusion

Many factors come to play when choosing a paintball size. These include the type of game you want to play and the size of your paintball gun.

As you’ve seen, not all paintballs fit all paintball guns. The most common paintball size is the .68 caliber. This paintball size is versatile and has high velocity, which makes it the perfect option for experienced players. But it’s heavier and can hurt when it hits you.

Meanwhile, the .50 paintball has also become popular as it’s an excellent option for beginners and kids. However, they are light and travel a shorter distance and at a reduced velocity.

Useful Links

• .68 caliber paintballs on Amazon
• .50 caliber paintballs – Amazon Link
• high quality .68 paintballs on Amazon – very popular