Cleaning a paintball gun can be extremely boring, however, it is one of the most important things you can do for both safety and competition. A clean and well maintained gun can help your accuracy and quickness when out on the playing field. There is nothing worse than having your marker jam right when you are about to take the winning shot.
You may be wondering how to clean a paintball gun? In this article, we have created a step by step guide that will show you exactly what to do to keep your gun running smoothly. There are a few things you should be aware of before you get started. First, each gun is made differently and may require different methods of cleaning. Check out your owner’s manual for more information before you attempt the steps below. We wouldn’t want you screwing up your gun and end up having to buy a new one. The steps below are just a basic guide to help you get started.
What You’ll Need
Most of the tools needed to completely clean your paintball gun can be purchased at a local convenience store or may be already found around your home. Make sure you have all equipment before you get started so you aren’t running around looking for something in the middle of the process.
- Cotton swabs or a toothbrush
- Pull through squeegee
- Paper towels
- Oil & lube – see your owner’s manual for more information
- Warm water
- Allen keys
How to Clean a Paintball Gun in 9 Easy Steps
Step One – You need to be safe while cleaning your gun and the best way to do that is by disarming the gun. Removing the air tank will prevent the gun from going off while working on it. Most injuries that occur while cleaning the gun happen for this very reason. Check to see if your gun has an ASA lever to degas the gun. If it doesn’t, check out your owner’s manual to see how to safely remove the air tank.
Step Two – With the help of your owner’s manual, follow the disassembly instructions to take apart your paintball gun. You want to make sure that you do this correctly. If you don’t have your owner’s manual, you can probably find it online. Once you begin removing the parts from your gun, keep them stacked neatly in front of you so you don’t lose them. Try to organize the parts by category so you know what goes together when it comes time to reassemble the gun.
Step Three – You should now have your gun disassembled and laying in parts in front of you. Now you can start to clean it, beginning with the barrel. Clean the barrel by pulling a squeegee through it. It will remove any excess paint, dirt and other debris that is lodged inside. Next, take a paper towel and get it damp with warm water. Wash the outside of the barrel and then use a second paper towel to dry it.
Step Four – Now it’s time to clean the body of the gun. For this step, you will need to refer to your owner’s manual to see if you can use a squeegee to clean the body of the gun or not. If the manual says you can, do it. If not, take a cotton swab or a toothbrush and warm water to clean the parts. Make sure every nook and cranny is cleaned out. Finish by drying the body with a paper towel.
Step Five – You are over half way done with cleaning your gun. Good job but let’s keep going by cleaning the grip frame. Use a toothbrush or cotton swab to clean out any dry paint and debris from the grip frame. Do not disassemble the trigger. This can cause damage to the gun and cause it to never work correctly again.
Step Six – For this step, you will be cleaning your smaller parts. Take out your bold and hammer and clean them thoroughly with a damp paper towel. Make sure they dry completely after washing them. Be sure to check the o-rings for wear and damage. If they are worn down too much, you may need to replace them.
Step Seven – It is time to do damage control. Look over your gun very carefully and make sure nothing is broken, cracked or worn down. Make sure the o-rings are looking great as they are an important component to any marker. They help keep the air sealed in the tank. It would be awful to run out of air in the middle of a competition. Also look at the springs, screws and small parts. If they look a little suspicious, it is best to replace them. There’s nothing worse than having a screw pop out or a spring break during the middle of the match.
Step Eight – Once you have cleaned your gun and examined it for damage, you can begin to oil and lubricate the marker with paintball oil. Only use oil specifically made for paintball guns. If you do not, you will certainly damage the gun. If you aren’t sure what to use, refer to your owner’s manual. It will tell you specifically which type of oil is right for your model of marker. Don’t forget to oil the o-rings!
Step Nine – Finally, you have made it to the last step. This is probably the hardest step. You have to put your gun back together. You remember where all the parts go, right? If not, refer to your owner’s manual to make sure all the parts are put together correctly.
Step Nine – Now that your entire paintball gun has been thoroughly cleaned, you are ready to reassemble it for the next session. Follow the schematic that you used to take it apart to reassemble all of the parts in the proper place.
Having a clean paintball gun will help you improve your game by increasing your accuracy and speed. You won’t have to worry about your gun breaking down right when you are about to destroy the enemy. Be sure to clean your gun thoroughly after any match so it will be ready to go the next time you want to crush the competition.