The best way to store paintballs is with a little knowledge and old-fashioned common sense. The shell of a paintball is made with glycerin and gelatin. This means that the shell is brittle because there is very little water. Both the glycerin and gelatin will dissolve in water very easily. Keep in mind, that if you are storing your paintballs in a humid environment, they will be damaged. Extreme hot and cold temperatures also have a damaging effect on the life of a paintball. A good temperature range to find is between 59 to 86F, and 40 to 50% relative humidity. An excellent rule of thumb is to store the paintballs in a plastic bag.

This all means that the best time of year to play paintball is in the spring and fall. These are both times of the year when the humidity is lowest. If you are playing in the winter, remember to expose you paintballs to the warmth in the car. The coldness of winter can cause the paintballs to become brittle fast. So remember, if the outside temperature is making you shiver, the cartons, loaders, hopper, and barrels should be exposed to heat. There is no better place than the car to provide the needed warmth on such short notice.

Adverse weather conditions can of course cause a warping in paintballs. If this happens, always make sure that the bad batch is discarded. Paintball is a lot of fun, and the best way to ensure fun and safety is to follow all of the rules and tips that make the game a great sport.

Now get out there and play!

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We provide everything from pistols, rifles, C02 canisters, apparel, and helmets, grenades, masks, to holsters and loaders. And if you can't find something on the site you need, you can bet Total Paintball Gear is working on it. Always feel free to call the support line and inquire, or just click on the Live Support button and talk to a paintball gear consultant in real time. Total Paintball Gear's friendly and knowledgeable staff will go out their way to help.

Our website is designed with the man or woman that wants to make a hassle free purchase. User friendly; you can easily find everything that you need-when you need it. What really makes Total Paintball Gear unique though, is the vast selections of our online store. Sensible pricing with a solid 30-day return guarantee insures the shopper that quality of goods and service is job one at Total Paintball Gear. Total Paintball Gear is also open 24/7 for those who want to shop the late at night or early morning hours. All major cards are accepted as well! And we even have the added convenience of paying through Paypal.

Be sure and visit Total Paintball Gear for all of your paintball equipment needs and accessories. There will be those times that a major paintball battle is only days away. Not a problem! Total Paintball Gear is only too happy to place a rush delivery order. The only worry you should have is in executing a winning game strategy.

The winning support team of Total Paintball Gear is behind you every step of the way!

Whether it is the actual paintball gear and accessories, or the pure enjoyment of the paintball way of life you want to extend; there are some basic rules and thoughts that are relative to both. The wear and tear of your paintball equipment is inevitable. It's also a fact of human nature that dictates that the joy and excitement of paintball competition may dwindle in time.

If it is the lifespan of your gear that you are concerned about, you can make it a point to monitor wear and tear on a regular basis. Buy new equipment and upgrades as needed. Get into the habit of servicing your equipment on a regular schedule. Not only does this extend the lifespan of equipment; but it also gives you a sense of pride and joy that bubbles over into other areas of your life.

If it's the paintball way of life that you want to endure, then continue to learn the evolving strategy of the game so that you are on a constant elevation of success. Redefine what success in the sport means to you. Is it winning, or simply the joy of playing the game for the social and physical benefits derived? Coming to terms with this kind of self-reflection early on can keep you in paintball competition for years to come. Remember that safety in the sport is priority one, and that the greatest success may very well be at the end of day-when everyone leaves safely for the next round of competition.

Cleaning your paintball is gun is much like cleaning a real one. Treat the task exactly the same way, and remember that caution and safety are priority one. The most important investment you can make is to keep the paintball gun well lubricated. This will largely prevent jamming and barrel breaks. There are general ways, and prescribed manufacturer procedures to clean your paintball gun. The manufacturer's safety rules should always be followed first. You may decide to implement a few rules of your own once you have these mastered.

The first act is to remove any air source for the paintball gun, followed by laying the design plans of the gun in front of you. You should have the barrel, hopper, hammer, and grip frame in view. What ever you take apart and clean, you'll want to be able to put back together, so be careful where you place the removed parts.

Once you have got the paintball gun disassembled, dip a squeegee in warm water and run it through the barrel. This should be followed by thoroughly cleaning the inside of the gun's body with an old toothbrush or Q-tip if you have them on hand.

Check for cracked or damaged o-rings, broken screws, or warped springs. And here is a very important rule! Never lubricate with anything other than paintball oil. The parts of your gun can become clogged, and your weapon may jam in competition. Once you've accomplished all of the above, just reverse your steps and reassemble your weapon. Take your time; if it's not done correctly, you will have to do it all over again.

All of these are good safety rules to follow, and should extend the life of your paintball guns. Total Paintball Gear is more than happy to answer any questions.

Let's start with the old saying that 'practice makes perfect'. Now let's tweak it a little bit and try this line, "Perfect practice makes perfect." It doesn't matter how much you practice, if you're not doing it correctly, you only teach yourself bad habits that will be hard to break. Dress properly for the occasion and follow the established safety rules.

Fire from the greatest line of accuracy-which of course would be the head. It really doesn't matter if you're looking down from the top of the barrel or the side, just as long as you have a straight view and can follow the projectile path. The simplest thing you can do once your target is line up; is to just shoot. "Study long-study wrong" has more truth to it than most people would like to admit. Let your instincts take over! In the long run you'll become a much more accurate shot.

Balance is supremely important. You will find yourself in all kinds of odd angles in competition play, but the one thing to concentrate on is how you're balanced when you take the decisive shot. You should get into the habit of analyzing your playing skills after the competition is over also. Try and think of the things that made you a success or failure, then avoid the bad and duplicate the good.

A lot of the success in life is based on how well we approach each task mentally. Approaching the mental game of Paintball is no different. Plan, study, and then execute. These small tidbits of advice will keep you in the winner's circle.