Before we dive deep to explain the step-by-step process of cleaning your paintball gun, let’s quickly highlight the tools that you would need to clean your gun in the shortest possible time successfully.

Below are the tools required:

Below is the step-by-step guide for paintball gun maintenance:

Step #1: Remove the air tank or CO2

The first step to keeping your paintball gun clean is to remove the air tank or CO2. Removing the air tank helps to prevent accidental fires or injuries. On no account should you forget to comply with this step; otherwise, you’d be heading for a disaster. You may end up injuring yourself or the surrounding people.

Step #2: Disassemble your paintball gun

After removing the air tank, the next step is to disassemble your paintball gun. Remember, it is important to disassemble or assemble your gun properly; otherwise, you won’t achieve success in the cleaning process. You can see the owner’s manual to know the process of disassembling the paintball. If you’re not close to where the manual is, you can do a simple Google search.  

Step #3: Remove the barrel and other parts of the gun

The next step is to remove the barrel and other parts such as the grip frame, hopper, hammer, and bolt. Ensure you keep these parts closely together and in an organized manner so that when assembling, you won’t make mistakes. Also, keep the fasteners close to each part so that you won’t forget where they belong.  

Step #4: Clean the Barrel

This step explains the cleaning process. Let’s start by cleaning the barrel. Use the squeegee to clean the barrel. The squeegee will help to clean out any residue paintball that may affect your gun’s performance and accuracy. Ensure you carry it out thoroughly so that you won’t experience jamming while on the field of play.

After cleaning the barrel, use warm water and paper to wipe the barrel. Then, it would be best if you wiped the barrel further with a dry paper towel to keep it clean and dry.  

Step #5: Clean the Marker’s body

After removing all the parts that make up a paintball gun, the next step is to clean the outside of the gun. If you’re wondering how to clean the outside of a paintball gun, then pay attention to this step.

Use the squeegee to clean the outside of the gun thoroughly. After that, get a toothbrush and warm water. Dip the brush into the warm and use it to scrub hard-to-reach areas. Brush thoroughly and don’t miss any spot. After brushing the body of the gun, use dry paper to wipe the gun to make it dry.

Step #6: Clean the grip frame

The next step is to clean the grip frame. To avoid jamming while on the field of play, ensure you clean the grip frame thoroughly of any dried paint. You can use the toothbrush to clean the grip frame.

It is important to mention here that on no account should you take out the trigger. If by any chance you take out the trigger, you will find it difficult to re-assemble it except you’re an expert.

Step #7: Clean the Hammer and Bolt

Next is to clean the hammer and bolt (striker). Use a paper towel to clean this unit, and make sure you dry it properly before moving to the next step.

Once it is dry, check the O-rings that come with these components and whether they are in place. Look out for wear and damage on the O-rings. If the O-rings are not in an acceptable state, you should immediately change them before proceeding to the next stage.

Step #8: Do a general inspection of the paintball gun

The next step is to inspect your paintball gun for any damages thoroughly. The inspection will enable you to identify any parts or components that require replacement. After that, inspect the internal parts of the paintball gun to determine whether the screws and strings need replacement.  

Step #9: Lubricate the Paintball Gun

After carrying out a thorough inspection to determine the parts that need replacement, the next step is to lubricate the paintball gun with oil. You may refer to your owner’s manual to determine the recommended oil for your paintball gun. Lubricate the O-rings properly; they would help to prevent air or CO2 leakage.

Step #10: Re-assemble the paintball gun

This is the last step of the process of cleaning a paintball gun. Here, you should carefully re-assemble all the internal parts that make up the gun. You may refer to your owner’s manual to learn the re-assembling process or do a simple Google search.

Lastly, after re-assembling all the parts, store the paintball gun in a safe place and make it ready for your next game.  

Well, it depends on how often you use the gun. But generally, you can clean your paintball gun between 4 to 5 times a month if you don’t play paintball too often. Suppose you are playing clean shots, and your marker is still fresh; I mean, if no paintball hits your gun, then you can avoid cleaning the marker for today. Again, if you are crawling, or playing in the dirt, your gun has got some paint spots; you must clean the gun after the gameplay. 

The designs and the structure of paintball markers are getting better day by day, and so the modern markers need less maintenance comparatively. But, it’s a great practice to clean the gun properly every time you played a game.