When they’re buzzing by on the field, it seems like paintballs are traveling as fast as bullets. But how fast are they really moving? The average paintball has a velocity of about 280 fps, or 190 mph, which is far slower than any regular gun.

How Fast Does a Paintball Marker Shoot?

The speed of a paintball is measured in feet per second (fps) because of the short range of the markers. Most guns are measured in fps. The average paintball marker can shoot 300 fps, or slightly below this. Most paintball playing fields require a maximum of 280 fps for safety purposes.

With an effective range of 80 to 100 feet for the average 280-fps marker, a paintball can reach its target in about one-third of a second.

A chronograph test is used to measure the speed of a paintball gun, and it is a very easy process. A field owner may ask you to “chrono” your personal marker prior to a game to ensure that you’re not shooting out of their safety range.

What Is That in Miles Per Hour?

In general, you can say that a paintball travels about 200 miles per hour (mph). Converting fps to mph is easy.

1 fps = .68 mphMPH = FPS x .68

If you prefer the metric system:

1 fps = 1.0973 kilometer per hour (kph)KPH = FPS x 1.0973

FPS MPH KM/H

280 x .68 = 190.4 mph x 1.0973 = 307.24 kph

300 x .68 = 204 mph x 1.0973 = 329.19 kph

400 x .68 = 272 mph x 1.0973 = 438.92 kph

How Fast Is Too Fast?

People typically don’t relate to speed in fps, but once the conversion is made to mph or km/h, the speed of a paintball becomes very real. To put this into perspective, the velocity of a .22 long rifle is, on average, 1,260 fps, which is 856.8 mph or 1382.6 kph. While a paintball is certainly not that fast, it’s still very fast.

The standard paintball velocity of 280 fps is set for safety reasons. It is both effective at ensuring the paintball bursts when it hits the target, and that it does not hurt the person who has been shot.

If you read enough about paintball velocity, you quickly learn that even the most experienced players believe anything faster than 300 fps is too fast. A high-speed marker simply adds an unnecessary danger to a very safe sport.

While some people want to see how fast they can get their markers by making modifications, it is definitely not recommended for field play. Your fellow players will call you out if you’re shooting too fast.

How Paintball Guns Work

Paintball guns allow compressed gas to expand behind a paintball and propel it down the barrel and out of the gun. The amount of gas, which is typically carbon dioxide (or “air”), released is controlled by a regulator in the gun. Generally, the larger the volume of gas, the higher the velocity of the paintball. Heavier projectiles require more force, thus more gas pressure. Paintballs deform when the air pushes them, which helps create a snug fit even if each ball isn’t perfect.

How Far Can a Paintball Gun Shoot?

Can Paintball Guns Shoot Marbles?

Does It Hurt to Get Hit by a Paintball?

What You Should Know Before You Buy a Paintball Gun

Electronic or Mechanical: Which Paintball Gun Is Right for You?

Maximum Speed of a Ping Pong Ball

Tire Speed Ratings Explained

What to Expect When You Play Paintball for the First Time

Illustrated Step-by-Step Long Jump Technique

What Is the Maximum Safe Ascent Rate for Scuba Diving?

NASCAR Race And Track Lengths

Honda Civic 2.2 i-CTDi Diesel Test Drive

Track and Field Running Events

Climbing Longs Peak, Keyhole Route Description

2011 Harley-Davidson Sportster SuperLow Review

Have People Died While Playing Paintball?

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LiveAbout is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.

When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept Cookies

When they’re buzzing by on the field, it seems like paintballs are traveling as fast as bullets. But how fast are they really moving? The average paintball has a velocity of about 280 fps, or 190 mph, which is far slower than any regular gun.

How Fast Does a Paintball Marker Shoot?

The speed of a paintball is measured in feet per second (fps) because of the short range of the markers. Most guns are measured in fps. The average paintball marker can shoot 300 fps, or slightly below this. Most paintball playing fields require a maximum of 280 fps for safety purposes.

With an effective range of 80 to 100 feet for the average 280-fps marker, a paintball can reach its target in about one-third of a second.

A chronograph test is used to measure the speed of a paintball gun, and it is a very easy process. A field owner may ask you to “chrono” your personal marker prior to a game to ensure that you’re not shooting out of their safety range.

What Is That in Miles Per Hour?

In general, you can say that a paintball travels about 200 miles per hour (mph). Converting fps to mph is easy.

1 fps = .68 mphMPH = FPS x .68

If you prefer the metric system:

1 fps = 1.0973 kilometer per hour (kph)KPH = FPS x 1.0973

FPS MPH KM/H

280 x .68 = 190.4 mph x 1.0973 = 307.24 kph

300 x .68 = 204 mph x 1.0973 = 329.19 kph

400 x .68 = 272 mph x 1.0973 = 438.92 kph

How Fast Is Too Fast?

People typically don’t relate to speed in fps, but once the conversion is made to mph or km/h, the speed of a paintball becomes very real. To put this into perspective, the velocity of a .22 long rifle is, on average, 1,260 fps, which is 856.8 mph or 1382.6 kph. While a paintball is certainly not that fast, it’s still very fast.

The standard paintball velocity of 280 fps is set for safety reasons. It is both effective at ensuring the paintball bursts when it hits the target, and that it does not hurt the person who has been shot.

If you read enough about paintball velocity, you quickly learn that even the most experienced players believe anything faster than 300 fps is too fast. A high-speed marker simply adds an unnecessary danger to a very safe sport.

While some people want to see how fast they can get their markers by making modifications, it is definitely not recommended for field play. Your fellow players will call you out if you’re shooting too fast.

How Paintball Guns Work

Paintball guns allow compressed gas to expand behind a paintball and propel it down the barrel and out of the gun. The amount of gas, which is typically carbon dioxide (or “air”), released is controlled by a regulator in the gun. Generally, the larger the volume of gas, the higher the velocity of the paintball. Heavier projectiles require more force, thus more gas pressure. Paintballs deform when the air pushes them, which helps create a snug fit even if each ball isn’t perfect.

How Far Can a Paintball Gun Shoot?

Can Paintball Guns Shoot Marbles?

Does It Hurt to Get Hit by a Paintball?

What You Should Know Before You Buy a Paintball Gun

Electronic or Mechanical: Which Paintball Gun Is Right for You?

Maximum Speed of a Ping Pong Ball

Tire Speed Ratings Explained

What to Expect When You Play Paintball for the First Time

Illustrated Step-by-Step Long Jump Technique

What Is the Maximum Safe Ascent Rate for Scuba Diving?

NASCAR Race And Track Lengths

Honda Civic 2.2 i-CTDi Diesel Test Drive

Track and Field Running Events

Climbing Longs Peak, Keyhole Route Description

2011 Harley-Davidson Sportster SuperLow Review

Have People Died While Playing Paintball?

When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept Cookies

When they’re buzzing by on the field, it seems like paintballs are traveling as fast as bullets. But how fast are they really moving? The average paintball has a velocity of about 280 fps, or 190 mph, which is far slower than any regular gun.

How Fast Does a Paintball Marker Shoot?

The speed of a paintball is measured in feet per second (fps) because of the short range of the markers. Most guns are measured in fps. The average paintball marker can shoot 300 fps, or slightly below this. Most paintball playing fields require a maximum of 280 fps for safety purposes.

With an effective range of 80 to 100 feet for the average 280-fps marker, a paintball can reach its target in about one-third of a second.

A chronograph test is used to measure the speed of a paintball gun, and it is a very easy process. A field owner may ask you to “chrono” your personal marker prior to a game to ensure that you’re not shooting out of their safety range.

What Is That in Miles Per Hour?

In general, you can say that a paintball travels about 200 miles per hour (mph). Converting fps to mph is easy.

1 fps = .68 mphMPH = FPS x .68

If you prefer the metric system:

1 fps = 1.0973 kilometer per hour (kph)KPH = FPS x 1.0973

FPS MPH KM/H

280 x .68 = 190.4 mph x 1.0973 = 307.24 kph

300 x .68 = 204 mph x 1.0973 = 329.19 kph

400 x .68 = 272 mph x 1.0973 = 438.92 kph

How Fast Is Too Fast?

People typically don’t relate to speed in fps, but once the conversion is made to mph or km/h, the speed of a paintball becomes very real. To put this into perspective, the velocity of a .22 long rifle is, on average, 1,260 fps, which is 856.8 mph or 1382.6 kph. While a paintball is certainly not that fast, it’s still very fast.

The standard paintball velocity of 280 fps is set for safety reasons. It is both effective at ensuring the paintball bursts when it hits the target, and that it does not hurt the person who has been shot.

If you read enough about paintball velocity, you quickly learn that even the most experienced players believe anything faster than 300 fps is too fast. A high-speed marker simply adds an unnecessary danger to a very safe sport.

While some people want to see how fast they can get their markers by making modifications, it is definitely not recommended for field play. Your fellow players will call you out if you’re shooting too fast.

How Paintball Guns Work

Paintball guns allow compressed gas to expand behind a paintball and propel it down the barrel and out of the gun. The amount of gas, which is typically carbon dioxide (or “air”), released is controlled by a regulator in the gun. Generally, the larger the volume of gas, the higher the velocity of the paintball. Heavier projectiles require more force, thus more gas pressure. Paintballs deform when the air pushes them, which helps create a snug fit even if each ball isn’t perfect.

When they’re buzzing by on the field, it seems like paintballs are traveling as fast as bullets. But how fast are they really moving? The average paintball has a velocity of about 280 fps, or 190 mph, which is far slower than any regular gun.

How Fast Does a Paintball Marker Shoot?

The speed of a paintball is measured in feet per second (fps) because of the short range of the markers. Most guns are measured in fps. The average paintball marker can shoot 300 fps, or slightly below this. Most paintball playing fields require a maximum of 280 fps for safety purposes.

With an effective range of 80 to 100 feet for the average 280-fps marker, a paintball can reach its target in about one-third of a second.

A chronograph test is used to measure the speed of a paintball gun, and it is a very easy process. A field owner may ask you to “chrono” your personal marker prior to a game to ensure that you’re not shooting out of their safety range.

What Is That in Miles Per Hour?

In general, you can say that a paintball travels about 200 miles per hour (mph). Converting fps to mph is easy.

If you prefer the metric system:

FPS MPH KM/H

280 x .68 = 190.4 mph x 1.0973 = 307.24 kph

300 x .68 = 204 mph x 1.0973 = 329.19 kph

400 x .68 = 272 mph x 1.0973 = 438.92 kph

How Fast Is Too Fast?

People typically don’t relate to speed in fps, but once the conversion is made to mph or km/h, the speed of a paintball becomes very real. To put this into perspective, the velocity of a .22 long rifle is, on average, 1,260 fps, which is 856.8 mph or 1382.6 kph. While a paintball is certainly not that fast, it’s still very fast.

The standard paintball velocity of 280 fps is set for safety reasons. It is both effective at ensuring the paintball bursts when it hits the target, and that it does not hurt the person who has been shot.

If you read enough about paintball velocity, you quickly learn that even the most experienced players believe anything faster than 300 fps is too fast. A high-speed marker simply adds an unnecessary danger to a very safe sport.

While some people want to see how fast they can get their markers by making modifications, it is definitely not recommended for field play. Your fellow players will call you out if you’re shooting too fast.

How Paintball Guns Work

Paintball guns allow compressed gas to expand behind a paintball and propel it down the barrel and out of the gun. The amount of gas, which is typically carbon dioxide (or “air”), released is controlled by a regulator in the gun. Generally, the larger the volume of gas, the higher the velocity of the paintball. Heavier projectiles require more force, thus more gas pressure. Paintballs deform when the air pushes them, which helps create a snug fit even if each ball isn’t perfect.

How Fast Is Too Fast?

People typically don’t relate to speed in fps, but once the conversion is made to mph or km/h, the speed of a paintball becomes very real. To put this into perspective, the velocity of a .22 long rifle is, on average, 1,260 fps, which is 856.8 mph or 1382.6 kph. While a paintball is certainly not that fast, it’s still very fast.

The standard paintball velocity of 280 fps is set for safety reasons. It is both effective at ensuring the paintball bursts when it hits the target, and that it does not hurt the person who has been shot.

If you read enough about paintball velocity, you quickly learn that even the most experienced players believe anything faster than 300 fps is too fast. A high-speed marker simply adds an unnecessary danger to a very safe sport.

While some people want to see how fast they can get their markers by making modifications, it is definitely not recommended for field play. Your fellow players will call you out if you’re shooting too fast.

How Paintball Guns Work

Paintball guns allow compressed gas to expand behind a paintball and propel it down the barrel and out of the gun. The amount of gas, which is typically carbon dioxide (or “air”), released is controlled by a regulator in the gun. Generally, the larger the volume of gas, the higher the velocity of the paintball. Heavier projectiles require more force, thus more gas pressure. Paintballs deform when the air pushes them, which helps create a snug fit even if each ball isn’t perfect.

  • How Far Can a Paintball Gun Shoot?

  • Can Paintball Guns Shoot Marbles?

  • Does It Hurt to Get Hit by a Paintball?

  • What You Should Know Before You Buy a Paintball Gun

  • Electronic or Mechanical: Which Paintball Gun Is Right for You?

  • Maximum Speed of a Ping Pong Ball

  • Tire Speed Ratings Explained

  • What to Expect When You Play Paintball for the First Time

  • Illustrated Step-by-Step Long Jump Technique

  • What Is the Maximum Safe Ascent Rate for Scuba Diving?

  • NASCAR Race And Track Lengths

  • Honda Civic 2.2 i-CTDi Diesel Test Drive

  • Track and Field Running Events

  • Climbing Longs Peak, Keyhole Route Description

  • 2011 Harley-Davidson Sportster SuperLow Review

  • Have People Died While Playing Paintball?

How Far Can a Paintball Gun Shoot?

How Far Can a Paintball Gun Shoot?

Can Paintball Guns Shoot Marbles?

Can Paintball Guns Shoot Marbles?

Does It Hurt to Get Hit by a Paintball?

Does It Hurt to Get Hit by a Paintball?

What You Should Know Before You Buy a Paintball Gun

What You Should Know Before You Buy a Paintball Gun

Electronic or Mechanical: Which Paintball Gun Is Right for You?

Electronic or Mechanical: Which Paintball Gun Is Right for You?

Maximum Speed of a Ping Pong Ball

Maximum Speed of a Ping Pong Ball

Tire Speed Ratings Explained

Tire Speed Ratings Explained

What to Expect When You Play Paintball for the First Time

What to Expect When You Play Paintball for the First Time

Illustrated Step-by-Step Long Jump Technique

Illustrated Step-by-Step Long Jump Technique

What Is the Maximum Safe Ascent Rate for Scuba Diving?

What Is the Maximum Safe Ascent Rate for Scuba Diving?

NASCAR Race And Track Lengths

NASCAR Race And Track Lengths

Honda Civic 2.2 i-CTDi Diesel Test Drive

Honda Civic 2.2 i-CTDi Diesel Test Drive

Track and Field Running Events

Track and Field Running Events

Climbing Longs Peak, Keyhole Route Description

Climbing Longs Peak, Keyhole Route Description

2011 Harley-Davidson Sportster SuperLow Review

2011 Harley-Davidson Sportster SuperLow Review

Have People Died While Playing Paintball?

Have People Died While Playing Paintball?

Home

Entertainment

Careers

Activities

Humor

About Us Advertise Careers Privacy Policy Editorial Guidelines Contact Terms of Use EU Privacy

LiveAbout is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.

Home

Home

Entertainment

Careers

Activities

Humor

About Us Advertise Careers Privacy Policy Editorial Guidelines Contact Terms of Use EU Privacy

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LiveAbout is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.

When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept Cookies