The Nelson Paint Company started in 1940, originally served the forestry market by producing premium tree-marking paints. Faced with the challenge of marking trees in hard to reach places, Charles Nelson invented a paint pellet that could be shot out of a gun.

The original pellet was made from oil base paint in order to leave a long-lasting mark. Foresters marked trees with it. Cattle ranchers marked livestock with it. Eventually people marked each other with it.

The first known Paintball game was played in the woods of New Hampshire in 1981, with twelve competitors playing capture the flag, using shop goggles and CO2 powered “paintball” pistols, and Nelson brand oil-based permanent paintballs.

As pellet marking became a more regularly played game, Charlie Nelson was asked about creating a less permanent type of paint in the pellets. Thus the water-based paintball was born.

Paintballs have since taken on a life of their own.

What Paintballs To Buy?
Basically there is more then one answer. The most common is, "Whatever the field supplies you."