How long do co2 cartridges last in paintball guns?

Paintball guns and co2!!!! Easy points better hurry!!?

• I bought a used tippman 98 custom (gray) I want and got a hopper, .68 caliber paintballs and a 9oz. Co2 can! I need to know if the can is already filled with co2 because it isn't releasing to my gun! I bought the tank brand new.

• Answer:

  Fishpro is absolutely wrong. With a very few exceptions, CO2 tanks do NOT come pre filled. There are disposable CO2 tanks that come pre filled, but those clearly state that they are and are obvious. However normal CO2 tanks do not come pre filled as it would put too much stress on the tank for such a long time. Manufacturers can't pre fill them because the tanks sit on the shelf for long periods of time before they're sold. CO2 tanks are not meant to be full for such a long period of time. Their burst discs would pop long before they're sold. CO2 tanks typically are filled to the weight of the CO2 put into them. CO2 becomes a liquid when under that sort of pressure which is why you can hear liquid sloshing around inside when filled. Typically the pressure inside is around 3000 psi with a brass fitting at the end that reduces it down to 800 psi before it enters your gun. Having that much pressure stored in a tank for long periods of time is just not wise. (for a comparison, the human lungs can produce 4 to 6 psi, car tires are filled to around 40psi. CO2 tanks are at 3000 psi) So bottom line; No, CO2 tanks are not pre filled before they're sold. You can easily test this yourself by pressing on the little pin on top of the brass fitting on the CO2. If you can press it in with the force of just your hand, then it's clearly not filled. Just for a bit of advice: I know you just bought the CO2 tank, but they're becoming obsolete. Most fields are making the switch to HPA (High Pressure Air) fills only because HPA is pulled straight out of the air. CO2 has to be shipped in via large tanks and costs the fields extra money to distribute. HPA is by far cheaper and better for your gun, but the tanks can get pricey.