Nitrogen (Nitro) and Carbon dioxide (CO2) are both colorless, odorless gases that are pressurized and used for shooting paintballs. You can use either option for your guns air system, however, you should be aware of the differences.

Advantages of Nitro

Nitrogen is compressed air, which differs from CO2, in that compressed air is not in liquid form while in your tank. CO2 is in liquid form inside the tank. Compressed air does not freeze.

Compressed air also maintains consistent air pressure. This is especially true when the air tank has a quality regulator valve installed. This enables you to fire more rapidly without worrying about freezing up.

Advantages of CO2

CO2 tanks are much easier and cheaper to fill. Common air compressors are usually incapable of achieving the pressure required to fill compressed air tanks. Few paintball fields have the correct type of compressors to fill these tanks.

Those are the only two advantages of CO2 - it is cheaper to buy and more readily available.

Many experienced players prefer and use Nitro or other HPA (high-pressure air) systems.

If you wish to use nitro, you may choose to save that for the tournaments, and use the cheaper, easier to get CO2 when playing rec-ball. Be aware, however, that you will notice a difference in the trajectory of your paintballs, as well as the accuracy of your shots when using Nitro and when using CO2. If you plan to use both, you need to practice with both ahead of time.