Powerlet

A box of Crosman CO₂ Powerlets.

A Powerlet cartridge, commonly referred to as a CO₂charger, is a small disposable metal container holding 8–12 grams (0.28–0.42 oz) of compressed CO₂ and often a small quantity of oil, used as a power source for certain air guns, airsoft guns, paintball guns, and for quick inflation of various devices, such as a personal flotation device.^[1] Originally developed and the trademark owned by Crosman Corporation and introduced to the market in 1954, the Powerlet CO₂ cartridge has become the dominant source of power for inexpensive, rapid fire air guns from many manufacturers.

A Powerlet container typically provides 20 to 40 shots in an airgun, depending on the gun and environmental conditions. The first 10 shots from a new bottle are consistent, with subsequent shots losing power. For paintball markers, expect fewer shots due to increased weight of the paintball compared to an airgun projectile.

For modern paintball guns, the technology is considered outdated, though some still use Powerlet cartridges for stock paintball, as they cannot fire as many shots as a modern CO₂ tank could provide. They are also still favored for paintball pistols, for players wishing to run 'light' with considerably less weight.

See also

• Whipped-cream charger

References