How to clean your paintball gun – A Complete Guide!
Let the Game Begin with Clean Gear: Your Ultimate Guide to Mastering Paintball Gun Maintenance and Keeping Your Equipment in Top Shape!
If you don’t clean and maintain your paintball gun properly, over time the lubricants inside your paintball gun will slowly dry. As a result, the internal parts of the gun will be covered with oil, paint, and dirt. It will eventually lead to bad performance or total breakdown of the paintball gun. But you don’t need to worry about all these problems if you are simply cleaning your paintball gun regularly.
Pro Tip:
Always try to clean your paintball gun barrel as soon as you get back home from the battlefield, especially during moist or rainy weather.
What You Need To Clean Your Paintball Gun?
Cleaning a paintball gun is much easier than you may think. You just need to pick a good paintball gun cleaning kit and some easy steps to follow.
The paintball gun cleaning kit usually includes the following supplies:
- Gun Cleaning Solvent
- A soft barrel swab
- Rag/Brush
- Toothbrush
- Q-tips and pipe cleaners
- Some screwdrivers
- Phone Camera – (To make the video of disassembly, it will help you remember all the steps for reassembling)
- Paintball Gun Oil
Note:
Make sure the area where you are going to clean your paintball is set up and organized. A paintball gun is made up of many small parts and you don’t want to accidentally lose any gear or screw.
Cleaning a Paintball Gun- A Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Safety Measures
Once you have set up the area, the first thing you need to do is to ensure your safety by de-gas your paintball gun. Most of the paintball markers operate on CO2 tanks or a similar gas. No matter what gas is being used in your paintball marker, ensure that your gun is properly degassed. Also don’t forget to put the barrel cover over the end of the barrel.
Some paintball markers also have batteries. If your model uses some sort of batteries, ensure that they are removed before you begin. After taking all these measures you are good to go for the next step.
Step 2: Disassemble the Gun/Marker
- Unscrew the CO2 tank and disconnect it from the marker.
- Remove the barrel.
- Remove all accessories like the hand grips or sights attached.
- Detach the firing mechanism from the body.
- Remove the bolt and striker assembly.
- Keep all the parts organized to avoid losing any parts that may cause extensive damage or hazardous situations.
Step 3: Clean the Paintball Gun Barrel
Unscrew the barrel and use a soft barrel swab to remove dirt, paint, and debris. Pour a small amount of gun solvent into the gun barrel and insert the pull-through squeegee into the barrel. Then gradually lift the squeegee and repeat the process a few times until it’s properly clean.
Then remove the squeegee and use the toothbrush to clean out any remaining grime.
Now use Q-tips or any type of pipe cleaners to clean the barrel from inside. Make sure to clean all the nooks and crannies.
After thorough cleaning, you may use a Microfiber cloth to dry the barrel from inside. Make sure to dry the gun properly to avoid any corrosion damage in the barrel.
Step 4: Clean the Body of the Paintball Marker
Once you have finished cleaning the barrel, it’s time to clean the body of your paintball marker. Don’t forget to make a video of the disassembly process. Below are some of the steps to clean the body of the gun.
Use a rag or brush to apply some solvent to the body to remove all the paintball stains. If you are finding it difficult to remove the paint stains, you can use warm water as well.
To clean the areas on your marker where it is difficult to clean, you can use a solvent with Q-tips to clean those crannies and then use a swab to dry them.
Step 5: Clean the Bolt, Hammer and Grip
The bolt and hammer are the most important parts of the paintball gun. They need to be removed and cleaned with a wet cloth. Sterilize these pieces to prevent corrosion. You should also inspect the O rings on the bolt and hammer. If these o rings appear worn, replace them before reassembling your paintball marker.
Now go ahead to clean the grip frame. Don’t disassemble the grip frame because it contains many small parts and it may be difficult for you to reassemble these tiny parts. I would suggest cleaning it with a solvent and brush. Then clean it with a dry cloth.
Step 6: Maintaining the Hopper and Magazine
A paintball hopper or loader is a large, usually oval-shaped reservoir that feeds the paintballs into the marker. Make sure that your hopper is clean and no dust or dirt might feed into the gun body.
Hopper setups vary depending on the model, but many models use spring-loaded hoppers. Disassemble the hopper with a screwdriver and carefully pull apart the magazine. Do it carefully to prevent the springs from shooting out.
Now clean the grooves you’ll see with a microfiber cloth and make sure it’s properly cleaned. Also, make sure the string of your spooler isn’t becoming worn down or malfunctioning. Once you are done with it, carefully piece the magazine back together and reassemble it.
Step 7: Sterilize and Lubricate
If you have followed all the steps in this guide, you are nearly done with cleaning your paintball gun. Sterilization is important if you want to put your marker in storage for a long time.
It’s important to lubricate the smaller pieces of your weapon. It’s vital to make sure you don’t overboard with the lubricant during this step. You should use the lubricant that is recommended by the manufacturer of the gun as it can increase the lifespan of your marker and keep it working smoothly.
Step 8: Gas Back Up
At the start of the process of cleaning your paintball gun, you de-gassed it. Now is an excellent time to gas it back up. Make sure not to overfill the gas tank both for safety and waste. Ensure that you are using a proper technique and check the gauge on your marker’s tank.
Step 9: Reassemble Your Paintball Gun/Marker
Now you have your paintball gun properly cleaned and lubricated. It’s time to go ahead and start putting it back together. At this step you can get help from the video you recorded are the time of disassembling the gun. Moreover, it’s a good idea to follow the schematic or guide that came with it.
Video Tutorial:
Here is a fantastic video made by Pro Edge Paintball if you would rather watch a tutorial on how to clean your paintball gun/marker.
Conclusion:
Maintaining a clean and well-functioning paintball gun is essential for peak performance on the battlefield. Regular cleaning not only ensures accuracy and reliability but also prolongs the lifespan of your equipment. As part of this comprehensive guide, make sure to unscrew the barrel and use a soft barrel swab to remove dirt, paint, and debris. By following the step-by-step process, from disassembly to reassembly, and addressing common issues that may arise, you can confidently navigate the cleaning routine. Remember, a well-maintained paintball gun not only enhances your gaming experience but also contributes to the longevity of your investment. So, gear up, stay clean, and keep your paintball gun ready for the next thrilling match!