regulator

What is a regulator? And what does it do?

Since you have several threads open about these topics, I'll answer them all here:

CO2 is stored in your tank as a compressed liquid (like propane). Your paintball gun is designed to work on CO2 in it's gaseous state (in other words, after the liquid has evaporated). When you shoot fast, or if you tip gun so that the tank is pointing straight into the gun, liquid CO2 is entering the gun, which will cause velocity spikes, decrease your gun's efficiency by wasting excessive ammounts of CO2, and can damage the valve on hi end paintball guns, like Automags. (If you shoot a Tippmann, liquid entering the gun won't hurt).

An expansion chamber is a simple tube located between the gun's valve and the CO2 bottle, which contains baffles that the CO2 passes through, giving it more time to heat up, therefore evaporating into gas. Keeping liquid out of the gun will keep your gun more consistant (by reducing velocity spikes), and will somewhat increase your shots per tank.

A regulator is a device that actually limits the quantity of gas that enters the gun at any point in time, commonly via springs and a piston. This is more efficient because you can adjust the pressure output of the regulator to the point where it allows JUST enough CO2 to shoot and cycle your marker, without any excess. Metering the CO2 usage will increase your shots per tank, as well as keeping consistancy in shot velocity.

Which is better? Well, they both will help your shot consistancy and shot per tank numbers. A reg will do this better than an ex. chamber, but will cost a good bit more.

Alright. Thanks alot guys.