Paintball Cannon / Launcher Custom Shells

 I'll make this as easy as possible. Here's what you need for these shells.

1. Paint of some sort
2. Small water balloons or Latex glove fingers.
3. Cardboard tubing that fits in your barrel (Toilet paper rolls should work)
4. Contact cement
5. Sheet of thin cardboard
6. Empty 20 oz pop bottle
 

Here's what you do.

1. Take the cap off the pop bottle and fill with your paint.
2. Put a small balloon or glove finger over the top.
3. Fill balloon to about twice the size of a golf ball and tie it off.
4. Lube the inside of your tube with paint.
5. Twist the balloon in the middle so it looks like 2 golf balls (may have to do it in thirds if you made it too big). Be a little careful. If it feels like it's too tight and is gonna break, it will. Trust me.
6. Work it into the tube. Set the first "ball" on top of the tube. Holding the paint sack loosely, bounce the tube on your hand. It should work it's way in. Work it all the way to the bottom, but not past. If possible, leave 1/4" to 1/2" empty space at the bottom.
7. You should be able to tell how much more you need to fill the tube and have 1/2" or so sticking out the top. If needed, make another sack this size and work it in. (Sizing takes a little getting used to).
8. Wipe off the excess paint and let the shells dry.
9. Cut a piece of cardboard in a circle so that it fits inside the bottom of the tube. slide it up to the paint sack, glue it in with the contact cement and allow to dry.
10. Check the fit in your barrel. If it is too tight, you can try peeling back the cardboard a bit. If it is too loose, tape around it.

It takes a little practice, but it works great. The shells are soft and should launch without breaking. If using a 2" barrel, double up your balloon material to prevent breakage. I usually "peel" the cardboard tubing a couple of layers until it is fairly soft. I fit the shells snugly to the barrel. When I load them they slowly slide down the barrel like they're on a cushon of air. They should have a little play and slide down the barrel without any force.