Frequently Asked Questions

How are paintball made?
Click here to learn how paintballs are made.

What is inside a paintball?
Food dyes (pigments), the same as those in orange soda, candies, ice cream, bubblegum, mints, etc., and polyethylene glycol (not to be confused with antifreeze). The liquid fill in a paintball is non-toxic and non-caustic, water-soluble and made of biodegradable or naturally-occurring ingredients. When a paintball hits a target, the thin gelatin skin splits open as it is designed to do, and the liquid inside makes a "paint" mark on the target.

What is the best way to store paintballs?
Store Diablo paintballs between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit, in not more that 50 percent relative humidity. Humidity and moisture make paintballs "swell up." Both the gelatin shell and the paintball's fill are moisture-sensitive. They will absorb moisture and begin to swell. Once they swell, they'll never be the same again. Since you cannot take the moisture back out, it is very important to keep paintballs in moisture-barrier bags of containers. You can use the thick plastic bags in which Diablo packs paintballs, or the medical grade plastic bags used used for the new EZ Packs, or a plastic bag that is four mils or more thick, like a moisture-barrier freezer bag. Paintballs can be stored in tubes or pods that have snug fitting caps. Keep the containers closed as much as you can, at home, during transport and at the field. The more humid it is, the more important it is to protect your paint from the humidity. DO NOT store paint in the refrigerator.

What can happen to paintballs in very hot or cold weather?
Paintballs work well in hotter or colder weather, but they should be kept well protected from any temperature extremes. Keep them out of the heat and sun, or the raw cold. At the field, keep them sealed, shaded from the sun and protected from the cold. Too much heat can cause the gelatin shell of a paintball to soften, meaning the paintball might deform, bounce more or stop feeding into the paintgun. Never leave your paint in the direct sun. Do not buy paintballs and then leave them in your hot trunk. In colder weather, when on the field, try to keep paintballs at 60 to 70 degrees. Paintballs that get too cold will eventually become deformed, and you cannot make them back into round paintballs.

What's the most common complaint about paintballs?
That they don't fit in someone's "gun". What you usually will find, especially in humid climates, is that the person did not take care of the paint. When you see bags or boxes of paint left open, or left outside when it's hot or cold, don't be surprised to hear complaints about the paint.

Should players roll their paintballs before shooting them, like in a plastic bowl or a tumbler?
It's not necessary to roll Diablo paintballs because they are factory-round.

Where can I find information on Paintball Safety ?
Click Here to view the Material Safety Data Sheet.