3 Marker Upgrades for Intermediate Paintball Players

So you’ve been playing paintball for quite some time now and you’ve got the basics down, but aren’t quite an expert yet. You’ve practiced and nearly perfected some skills like hitting a target, but know that a stock marker can only fire so fast or so accurately. Even if you play at an intermediate skill level, your equipment might be holding you back.

The unique thing about paintball is that it is a sport that allows varied equipment upgrades to customize and individualize it to the player’s strengths and preferences. It’s very easy to make easy, often affordable upgrades and changes to a stock marker that can make a huge difference in your performance.

The stock marker allows the player to pick and choose which modifications will work best for their game style and skill level. There are several customizations and upgrades you can make to a marker when you’re ready to step up your game.

1. A Barrel Upgrade By Length or Bore Size

Recommended if:

You want an affordable, accessible upgrade
You want increased accuracy OR increased distance
You aren’t sure what to upgrade first

A barrel upgrade is the most common and basic upgrade to marker. If you aren’t sure what to improve first, start by upgrading your barrel. There is one question you must ask when doing so: Is increased accuracy or increased distance more important? For example, if you often play woodsball, distance is probably your preference. But if you more often prefer speedball, accuracy may be more important.

Accuracy: Increase Length of Barrel

There are barrel upgrades of all types and sizes. Upgrade your barrel to 12 to 16 inches for a marker much easier to aim, resulting in increased accuracy. However, it will not add distance and may actually decrease it. Also note, a longer barrel increases the time that the paintball is in contact with it, so it could be more likely to break when playing in cold temperatures.

Accuracy: Decrease Bore Size of Barrel

Another option for increased accuracy is to decrease the bore size of the barrel. The smaller the barrel bore size, the higher the accuracy.A stock barrel usually has a bore size of .690 and an initial decrease to .688 bore size should be sufficient. As you become a more advanced player, you can decrease gradually, often as low as .675. Note that you may have to adjust your paintball size as well, depending on the bore size. The most common paintball is the size of a .680 bore, which the stock barrel can easily fit. However, if you plan to go below .680, you will probably need to adjust your paintball size.

Another option is to purchase a barrel kit. These come with multiple barrel sleeves that allow you to adjust the bore size. That way, you can use any size paintballs you have and adjust the barrel bore size as needed. These can be more expensive, but will increase your accuracy and allow you to use any size paintballs you have.

Distance: Decreased Barrel Length

Look for a shorter barrel of 8 to 12 inches if distance is important. Specialized barrel modifiers can also be found for those that really want to maximize distance and shoot your target before they come within normal range. The specialized modifiers are more expensive, but can increase your distance by 100 feet. These are designed to cause the paintball to curve in order to shoot further, faster. Your accuracy will be lowered, however, as a number of factors such as wind, pressure, and the general distance. Because of the general distance, anything like wind, pressure, can cause the ball to curve a little.

2. Trigger Upgrade to Double, Response, or Electronic

Recommended if:

You want to shoot more paintballs at a quicker rate

Beginner’s Upgrade: Double Trigger

A higher firing rate is obviously a huge advantage on the paintball field because you will be able to shoot more paintballs quicker than your opponents. The easiest and most affordable way to obtain this is to upgrade to a double trigger. A double trigger simply operates by making it easier to pull the trigger and as a result, increase your firing rage. You will simply need to swap your old trigger and guard out for this one, without any complicated mechanical upgrades.

Intermediate Upgrade: Response Trigger

The next step up is a response trigger, and you can use it simultaneously with a double trigger, or on its own. The response trigger has a slightly more complicated installation process, but is still simple enough to do at home. It is a small cylinder and piston installed behind the marker’s trigger that is powered by your marker’s air. You can adjust a response trigger from a normal firing rate to a very high rate.

Advanced Upgrade: Electronic Trigger

An advanced upgrade is the electronic trigger, or e-trigger. It requires some understanding of how the marker operates because you will need to disassemble parts in order to install it. This is the trigger upgrade with the highest range and also the ability to switch between semi-automatic, fully-automatic, three-round bust, and other firing modes.

3. Upgrade: Co2 Tank to HPA Tank

Recommended if:

You live in a cold climate or often play in colder weather
You want to increase your firing rate
You want increased accuracy and efficiency

An upgrade to an HPA (high pressure air) tank will bring increased efficiency and accuracy when shooting in any climate or temperature. However, this upgrade is especially recommended to those who frequently play paintball in colder weather because low temperatures easily cause Co2 tanks to function improperly.

The main reason for this is that the stock tank simply requires more effort from the marker than a HPA: Co2 starts as a liquid and must be converted into a gas in order to to function correctly. Warm temperatures cause the Co2 to expand quickly, while colder temperatures cause it to expand slowly. When the environmental temperature is lower or your firing rate is very fast, a delay in the conversion of Co2 can take place.

Firing too quickly won’t allow the Co2 adequate time to convert, which will cause the paintball spin or curve as it comes out with too little gas Co2 and traces of liquid Co2. The result is a much slower firing rate as the marker delays its cycle to process to catch up the Co2’s conversion. The marker may temporarily stop working and make an extended stuttering sound (similar to a machine gun). Add in a freezing temperature, and the maker could freeze and form a thick white vapor at the barrel.

This is a concern that does not exist with HPA tanks because these use a regulatory system that ensures the cleaner gas remains in that form at all times. The end result is steady, constant pressure every time you fire a paintball. The negative side to a HPA tank is that there are fewer places to fill them up, and it can be a high upfront cost.