How To Clean A Paintball Gun?

The paintball gun should be cleaned properly to maintain its efficiency. Do you know how to clean a paintball gun? If not, then stay tuned to this article. We are sharing a detailed explanation of the paintball gun, how we can clean it, improve and maintain its efficiency, and a complete guide to using it in the battle for staying longer in the game.

Paintball is a famous sport played in many countries globally. The game is played indoors/outdoors depending upon the available area. Two teams, with enough members, fight using a paintball gun that has paintball pellets or capsules. These pellets are filled with paint and used as bullets to shoot opponents. The team who survives till the end is considered a winner. The gun used to shoot the opposition is known as a paintball gun or paintball marker. 

The beginners who have started playing paintball should understand their weapon, learn to use it, and also keep it clean after the battle and during the battle. If you are not familiar with such things, then this article will be a great source of information and guidance for you in this regard. Stay with us to learn how to achieve maximum performance out of your weapons by maintaining their cleanliness on the playing battlefield.

How to Clean And Maintain A Paintball Gun?

Paintball players know how important it is to keep the gun clean. The dirty gun will jam and reduce the performance efficiency of the gun. Weapons are sensitive and sometimes it becomes risky as well as boring to clean the gun. \

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There are certain questions that can come into the mind of a user such as;

• How to clean the gun inside and outside? 
• What are the easy solutions to paintball gun cleaning? 
• What are the easy steps to clean a paintball gun?

I will address all these questions through proper research. I have prepared a comprehensive guide to clean a paintball gun to help you to get maximum efficiency.

Why Is Gun Cleaning Important?

Paintball guns get dirty while playing on the ground. Therefore, proper attention and cleaning are required to maintain its efficiency. In addition, the click voice indicated that the ball is not coming out easily. Taking not proper care of your weapon will reduce its lifespan making it inefficient for the next game. Thus, you will need to spend more money on gun cleaning.  

Moreover, dirty guns create clogs and are more likely to stop working during the battle. Such situations are embarrassing and even disturb your focus to play. Therefore, investing some time in cleaning your gun is better than losing the battle due to bad paintball gun functioning. 

Steps to Clean A Paintball Gun

Whether you are a beginner or just learning to clean the paintball gun. Follow the given instructions to clean your paintball markers and improve their efficiency. Follow the 11 steps shared below and don’t skip any of them for better results.

Collect the Gadgets

Before stepping towards the gun cleaning, it is important to have all the required gadgets to run the process smoothly. So, collect the mentioned things at the beginning of the task to avoid any hustle. 

Gather the following items:

• Gun solvent
• Barrel cleaner
• Toothbrush
• Pipe cleaners
• Q-tips
•  microfiber cloth
• Tissue papers
• Washing materials such as soap
• And a mobile phone to record the process of disassembling. This video will be helpful to reassemble the gun in case you forget it. 

Additionally, a paintball gun cleaning kit is also available in the market. You can purchase it for your ease. It comes with all the tools and gadgets required to clean the gun. However, if it is not yet available, the above-mentioned household tools can also work.

Degas Your Gun

To avoid any injury or mishap, it is crucial to degas your gun and remove carbon dioxide from it. Make sure your gun has no gas filled in it. If you are a newbie or a teenager, then ask for help from your experienced elders. Few incidents have been reported where gas inside the gun caused the injury.

Note: This is the most critical step and most of the injuries are reported. So be cautious!

It is a simple procedure, you just need to unscrew the gas tank and discount it from the gun. A gas tank is present on the top of the gun. Now remove the barrel and other accessories from the gun. Afterward, remove the firing mechanism and bolt. We hope you can go off perfectly. You can also read the guidebook of your paintball gun to understand the exact procedure. Once the gun is degassed, move to the next step. 

Disassemble Paintball Gun

Separate the paintball gun parts so you can easily clean each of them. Use the instructions manual of your weapon and disassemble the parts of the gun. The parts of the gun are sensitive therefore this is the most difficult and time taking part. So, have patience and proceed with accuracy. 

Tip: Don’t forget to make a video of this procedure. This will be helpful when you will reassemble the paintball gun.

Clean the Barrel

The paintball gun is similar to the other policeman guns and the way of cleaning is also simple. Cleaning the barrel is easy but you need to be focused otherwise any issue may occur. 

The barrel has oil and paint contaminants. Such particles are difficult to remove with a brush and squeegee. The easy way to clean the barrel is to take a bowl and add hot water with a small amount of washing soap in it. Then soak the dirty barrel in it and let it stand for 10 to 15 minutes. Afterward, remove it and clean it. Let it air-dry and then use a squeegee to remove the extra moisture from the barrel. 

Once done, double-check whether the debris and dirt particles are removed. You can also check the smoothness and texture of the barrel to confirm that it is clean. Also, use a flashlight or torch for confirmation. If the dirt particles exist, they might disturb the performance of the gun in battle. 

Note: If the gun stops working during the game, it will disturb you. Therefore, invest proper time in cleaning and maintaining it at home.

Clean The Bolt and Hammer

Now it is time to deal with the two most fragile components of the paintball gun, the bolt, and hammer. Both components deteriorate with time. You just need to be aware and replace it when required. Regular maintenance may increase its lifespan. Besides this, bolts and hammers are not very expensive and can be replaced with a new one when required.

Moving back to its cleaning, remove the bolt and hammer using a screwdriver. Keep the screw aside carefully. Clean the parts using a soft wet microfiber cloth and polish the parts with tissue and keenly find out whether it is fine or broken. Little tears can be fixed but if broken then you need to replace them. Observe the O-rings for any damage. 

Gently clean the bolt and hammer with tissue paper after polishing and dry each of them separately. Once done, move to the next step.

Clean The Mask and Lens

Mask is also an important part of a paintball gun. Therefore, it is important to clean it. Remove the lens from the mask and be careful with the lens, especially a thermal lens. Clean the edges of the lens carefully using a soft cloth or tissue paper. Remove all the dust particles from it. You can also use dish soap to soak the mask in it for some time to remove paint and other stains.

Use the brush to rub the mask and remove the dust from it. Water and foam form is good enough to clean the mask with gentle rubbing with a brush. Once done, keep the lens and mask for air drying.

Battery Inspection 

Beginners do not even know that their weapon has batteries. Usually, during the first maintenance session, the batteries are forgotten. You can check the product instruction manual to din batteries. Check the condition of the batteries, and find out whether it is rechargeable or replaceable.  

Note: Don’t throw the batteries even if they are dead. Because the dead batteries will help you find the details of the battery size and other information that you will need to purchase a new one. 

Now you might be thinking why battery replacement is included in paintball gun cleaning. The reason is the battery leakage. It is a big issue when you find a leaked battery in your weapon. Batteries are made up of harmful material therefore it is recommended to use gloves when dealing with them. Remove the leaked batteries carefully and proceed. Clean the weapon and place a new battery.

Clean The Body Of A Paintball Gun

During a paintball match, the body of the gun gets dirty with dust, mud, and paint stains. To make it look shiny and clean it is necessary to clean it from the outside. 

To clean the outer body, you must understand the material of your weapon. So, read the instruction guide for your gun and then proceed with body cleaning. In most cases, the body is cleaned using a dry cloth. If there are hard stains, then use a toothbrush to remove them. We hope these techniques will work for you.

Lubrication and Greasing

All the parts of the gun are washed using water. But now it is important to lubricate all the gun accessories to bring them in working condition. Skipping this step will disturb the gun’s functioning.

Note: It is important to use the right oil. Use the instructional manual to find which oil or lubricant is good for your gun.

Add a little amount of oil to all the parts of the paintball gun and make it greasy. Avoid adding too much oil. O-rings should also be lubed or replaced if new. 

Filling Up The Gas

The next step is to refill the gas. You can fill the gas tank with carbon dioxide or any other compact gasses. It is a critical task and many people face injury while doing it. Therefore, never rush with it, keep patience, and take the proper time to do it. 

The right procedure to do the gas refill is to keep the tank in the vertical direction. It will make it work simply against gravity. Make sure the gas isn’t entering as a liquid. Keep everyone, especially kids away while doing this procedure. 

Reassemble The Gun Parts

Now open the video that you have recorded in step 3. Watch this video and reassemble the gun parts. All the parts of the gun should be assembled in the way they were reattached. Take time and screw all the parts. You can also use the instructional manual if any confusion occurs. Fix all the sections properly and finally, your paintball cleaning is done.

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Is Cleaning The Same For Every Type Of Gun?

Generally, the cleaning steps are the same. But the material of weapons and their arrangement might differ. Therefore, it is good to read the instruction book of your paintball gun to understand the working, cleaning, sections, and needs of your gun.

What Are The Types Of A Gun?

Guns are available with different features that make them a high-cost weapons. For instance, electronic and mechanical markers, low and medium-ranged runs, heavy and light-weight guns, and of course cheaper and high-cost guns. So, depending on the requirements, one can choose the weapon. 

What Are The Famous Paintball Weapons?

Paintball is not just a sport but it is a hobby. For the last two years, the game has been stopped due to the coronavirus pandemic. Now the virus has been controlled and life in most regions of the globe has been vaccinated. Therefore, it is expected that paintball will also revive and gain popularity globally.

A paintball gun is a major weapon used in the game. People use different types of weapons depending on their body weight, game duration, and other factors that we will discuss in this article later on. 

For now, here is the list of famous weapons or paintball guns used in the game.

What To Consider When Purchasing A Paintball Gun?

Apart from masks, clothes, and shoes, they usually protect the player during a paintball game. A paintball gun is the only weapon that is used to hit the opponents and win the match. So, the weapon is the most critical aspect of a paintball tournament. The one who is new to paintball thinks that an expensive gun is always a good one. But that is not a thumb rule.

An expensive paintball gun can’t even assure your success. Thus, it is important to understand how your gun works, and what its aiming efficiency and targeting rate is. Besides this, here are some tips that you should consider while purchasing a paintball gun.

• The duration of the paintball game. Heavy guns are not suitable for long-duration matches because they will hurt your arm later.
• The type of game should also be considered. If it is a tournament you must go with a professional gun, however, go with a medium gun when playing in recreational events.
• Maintenance is also another factor to be considered.
• The price of the gun is also an important aspect. 

What Else Is Required To Clean A Paintball Gun?

Here you might ask whether the paintball is enough to get entry into the battleground. The answer to this is a big one now. Apart from a paintball gun, there are many other accessories that you will require to step into a paintball match. Here is a list of things you will require along with a paintball gun

Paintball Tank

The paintball tank can be filled with HPA or CO₂. Later one is good for beginners because it is cheaper. The paintball tanks should be high for better performance. Low gas levels will reduce the velocity of the pellet. 

Good Valve

Repeated and rough use of paintball guns damages the valve of the gun. Therefore, the valve needs to be replaced if required.

Hopper

Hopper should work perfectly otherwise you need to replace it. Moreover, it can affect the feed rates so keep an eye on the efficiency of your hopper.

Neck And Chest Guard

It is important to follow all the precautions and safety measures to play paintball. Investing in neck and chest guards is important. Pick a good one because it will be a one-time investment.

Paintball Mask

A paintball mask is also important to keep your face secured from any injury. Pick the appropriate size that can fix and improve your work. Also, buy a pair of paintball goggles.

What Is An Alternative To Purchasing A Gun?

As described earlier, paintball is a hobby game and people prefer playing it in the summer. So, if you love to play paintball once or twice a year then don’t purchase a paintball gun. You can go with another alternative, i.e. rent. 

A paintball gun, mask, hopper, and tank are available at low-cost rest for a day. So, if the usage of a paintball gun is less than the price and maintenance cost then it is better to go with a rented gun. Just play for a day, enjoy your game, and return the gun to the store owner. 

In addition, the paintball gun can also break during the fight. Therefore, consult the weapons renting person about the case. 

Regular Maintenance Of The Gun

To increase the lifespan and ensure the proper working of your gun, it is necessary to pass it through regular maintenance. Both the external and internal parts of the paintball gun should be cleaned and maintained. Warm water, a toothbrush, a soft cloth, and washing soap can be used to clean it regularly. 

Avoid frequent cleaning of your gun. Cleaning once a month is enough for regular users. Cleaning the gun weekly or even more can also disturb its functioning. Besides this, regular inspection is important to make it run smoothly on the battleground.

Recheck the batteries and change/recharge them on time. Replace the O-rings when damaged. They are inexpensive and you can get a large number of O-rings at a small price. Moreover, grease the gun when required. Hard-to-reach areas are difficult to clean so you can go with Q-tips and other cleaning tools.

Don’t forget to wear gloves and take necessary precautionary measures while cleaning your paintball gun. It is also good to sanitize your gun from outside to kill germs and other harmful bacteria. 

Where And How To Store A Gun?

Some people are not regular paintball players and want to store their guns after cleaning them. For sure, you can also store your gun till the next tournament. Here are some things that you must keep in mind when storing your gun.

• Before storing your paintball weapon, it is good to ensure that it is empty. There must be no paintball pellets inside it.
• Clean your paintball gun following the above-mentioned guidelines before storing it.
• The gas tank should be empty and gas should be removed to avoid any mishap. 
• Make sure that the safety lock is on and that no one can use the paintball gun. 
• The gun should be placed at a location where kids cannot reach it. Even if the paintball gun is free of pellets and locked, kids should not reach it.
• Firearms and ammunition should be stored separately. 
• Even though cleaning is not possible every week, it should be maintained and cleaned after a month to ensure a good life span.

Conclusion – How To Clean A Paintball Gun

A paintball gun or marker is the weapon used during the paintball match to hit the opponent. It is similar to the other weapons but bullets are replaced with paint pellets. Cleaning of a weapon is important because it affects the weapon’s life span, work efficiency, and performance. The maintenance of weapons can make them work longer and keep you performing better on the battleground.

The cleaning of paintball markers is simple but disassemble the paintball gun as instructed by the company. Make a video of this task, then separate each part and clean it using brushes, Q-tips, or any other device. Clean a paintball gun, and observe if all the markets are in good condition. Later, reassemble the gun and watch the video if any confusion occurs.

Maintenance of the paintball is also important. If you are a regular player, then you must take care of your weapons. Sometimes the cost of maintenance becomes high but the cost of guns is also increasing day by day. So, clean your gun at home by following the instructions given above.

In a nutshell, the gun parts will be separated. Afterward, each part needs to be cleaned using water, washing liquid, brushes, and a microfiber cloth. After cleaning and air drying, all the parts will be lubricated and then assembled. The outside of the gun will also be cleaned, gas will be refilled, and batteries can also be replaced.  

Precautions and safety measures should be adopted. Remove the gas tank before cleaning the gun. Replace the batteries on time and avoid battery leakage. Furthermore, the cleaning process should be repeated after a month. More frequent cleaning can also ruin your gun performance. 

FAQs

Anderson

In his impressive career, John M. Anderson has played alongside the best players in the world and earned the respect of many top competitors. His skill, versatility, and timing have helped him become one of the top players in the paintball world. He is a true pro who will likely be remembered as one of the greatest players in the game’s history. His impact goes beyond the field as well. He has become a spokesperson for the sport, sharing interesting stories and facts from the past, and he also regularly contributes to this blog to help and guide new players in the world of paintball.