The Paintball Marker Has An Interesting History

Samantha Kay asked:


The Paintball marker of today has definitely come a long way since the introduction of the Splat Master years ago. The term itself “paintball marker” is relatively new. It tends to be more marketable then the words “paintball gun” to parents who have teenagers begging to get started in the sport.

Funny though true, the first paintball markers where used on cattle ranches. In a large herd of cattle where cows all bare very similar markings, it can be very hard to single one out of the herd. This is where the paintball marker proved to be a valuable tool. This was done usually to separate a sick animal from the herd. Once a cow had been marked, it was easily picked out of the herd.

From cattle ranches to playing fields, the sport of paintball evolved and continues to do so.

The Splat Master was one of the first markers available. It was a pistol made totally out of plastic. It was powered by small 12 gram Co2 cylinders and could only hold ten paintballs at a time. The rate of fire was also slow due to the fact the marker first had to be tilted back so a paintball would drop into the firing chamber. It then had to be cocked by pushing a button on the back of the handle.

Although even playing the game with this type of marker was extremely fun, it wasn’t long before players wanted something better, and they got it with the creation of the pump action paintball marker. The pump marker had a much faster rate of fire and could be modified with upgrades to improve performance.
Another great change that came with the pump marker was the introduction of metal parts that could be replaced. With older plastic markers, when parts wore out, a new marker was needed. Also the upgrade of “constant air” came about. Instead of using the 12gram Co2 cylinder, which was good for about 15 shots, the gun was equipped with a bracket that held a 12 ounce Co2 tank which was good for about 200 shots.

Constant air was a real breakthrough for the sport and was no doubt a huge stepping stone for the next step in the paintball marker evolution, which was the semi-automatic marker. Compared to the pump markers, these guns had an incredible rate of fire. A player with a good trigger finger could pull off nine shots a second! With fire power like that, the invention of large capacity electric hoppers came onto the scene. These hoppers were mounted on the top of the guns and could hold up to 250 paintballs. They also were equipped with a small rotating arm inside the hopper which helped feed the paintballs to keep up with the much faster rate of fire.

The semi-automatic marker was truly a groundbreaking event for the sport, but the question still hung in the air would there ever be full auto?

That was question was soon answered with a paintball marker called The Angel, but what made the Angel a real marvel is that is was computerized. It was equipped with a small motherboard inside the handle of the gun. This allowed the user to select several modes of fire, including fully automatic.

Today’s markers have followed the same road map that the Angel laid out, and we can only wait to see what the next generation of paintball markers will bring.



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The World of Custom Paintball

Adan Rivers asked:


The world of extreme sport saw the dawning of new and cutting edge games such as the custom paintball and air soft. Custom paintball is one strategic and military – orientated game which requires not only physical abilities and endurance, but also psychological and psychology conditioning. Custom paintball has pre-requisites so that players would experience high level of performance in their game.

What custom paintball gear is critical to have?

Custom paintball guns are paintball gears which a lot of fans spend a large amount of their cash on. There are different relying of paintball guns depending on the user’s discretion and private, distinct desires. As an example, the player’s style and methods in playing the game is an important determinant as to the kind of new or used paintball marker to purchase.

What sorts of plan are you use in custom paintball?

It’s important that the gun has a quicker way of loading paint for faster shooting. Many upgrade marker kits are available for better performance, but to be more effective, there are other guns which are more fitted to your requirements without the pricey upgrades.

Another style of combat is a sniper type system or attack. In this case, a gun that can assure more accuracy from distant places or locations is of utmost option. A pump sniper paintball gun is OK for this need and style. A good magazine for your marker similarly plays an imperative role. Other stuff to consider are upgradability, manufacturer and comfort in using this equipment in the period of your game.

What are important features of a custom paintball?

For instance, you must have a selection of upgrade options for your custom paintball gun. This means it can keep up with the constant and growing need of its user at any point in time. Likewise, it’s important that your gun is very much in compatibility to your body system therefore comfy to use. Finally , the brand of producer of your marker should be reliable enough in manufacturing top of the range custom paintballs.

Likewise , web stores also offer great lines of paintball gears and necessities.

Custom paintballs have definitely taken the sector of sports by force, and in a brief period, short time period, that is. Therefore, it is always imperative to consider accessing them with great discretion and smart judgment.



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Be Prepared – Top 10 Things to Have in Your Paintball Gear Bag

Johnathan Brandon asked:


I can’t count the number of times that I’ve seen someone arrive at a field or paintball outing only to discover that they left their hopper at home… or how many times I’ve seen a gun break only to find that the owner doesn’t have a tool kit or spare parts available.  Luckily in most cases, there are others around who did remember, and are happy to help out, but sometimes being unprepared means you may get to sit and watch others play.

That being said, I’ve compiled a list below of the top 10 things to make sure you always have in your bag before you head out to the field.  We’ll assume for the sake of this article, that you haven’t forgotten your gun.

1. Paintball Mask – This should probably be number 1, 2 and 3 on the list. You should never play paintball without a mask that is designed for paintball. Let me say that again.  You should never play paintball without a mask that is designed for paintball.  Your eyes are much to important to take any chance losing them. Safety goggles or sunglasses don’t offer the protection you need when a paintball is heading at your face going 285 feet per second.

Paintball masks come in many varieties.  All masks that are intended for paintball should meet the minimum safety requirements, so after that your choice is going to be focused more on comfort, visibility, and style.  More expensive masks tend to excel in all three areas but something like the entry level vForce Armor Goggles are fine for beginners. For more experienced players you may find them wearing the vForce Profilers or the vForce Grill vision systems.

2. Safety Gear – Even though a mask is considered safety gear, I felt it was important to list it separately.  There are a number of other safety items which should be considered as well such as paintball gloves, neck protectors, and knee and elbow pads.  These will make you more likely to dive when necessary to avoid being shot, and will make you less likely to get hurt doing so. You can also wear a chest and back protector.  These come in different varieties and will help minimize the number of bumps and bruises you go home with.  The Spyder Body Shield is a very popular version because it looks more like a Jersey than a catcher’s chest protector.

strong>3. First Aid Kit – I keep a small first aid kit in my bag in the event that I get a cut or scrape.  You can typically find a general all purpose kit at your local drug store. I’d typically make sure that it includes band-aids, triple-antibiotic ointment, gauze pads and tape.  If it doesn’t include them, I’ll throw in a small bottle of pain-reliever in the event I get a headache, or as I get older, for some of the related aches and pains.

4. Barrel Cover – I keep my barrel cover on my gun when it’s stored away. This helps me avoid forgetting it.  All reputable and insured fields will require that you have a barrel cover on your marker at all times except during play. Most will not accept a barrel plug, so if your marker came with a plug as most Spyder Paintball Guns did until last year, you will want to get a barrel cover before heading to the field.  If you forget, most fields will gladly sell you one.

5. Squeegee – Squeegees come in a few different formats.  The “battle swab” consists of two soft ends, which can be inserted into the barrel to soak up any residual paint. They typically fold in half and are pretty easy to keep in your back pocket or cargo pants for easy cleaning on the field if you have a ball break in the barrel.  Jerk squeegees consist of a wire or plastic lead with rubber washers and fabric on one end. They are pulled through the barrel to pull out most of the paint.  Straight shot squeegees are similar but do not have much flexibility in them.  Both the jerk and the straight shot squeegees require that you remove your barrel or disassemble your gun to use them, so they are not ideal for on the field cleaning.  I would recommend having both a battle swab and a jerk or straight shot squeegee in your bag. It’s frustrating to have your balls going every way except straight because you have a dirty barrel.

6. CO2 or Nitro Tank – It seems obvious but it’s worth mentioning that you shouldn’t forget your tank.  There are two main varieties of tanks… CO2 tanks are typically measured in ounces, which describe how much liquid CO2 the tank will hold.  20oz CO2 tanks seem to be the most popular and a full tank will typically give you 900 – 1000 shots. Keep in mind that some guns (typically more expensive guns) do not recommend using CO2 and instead recommend Nitrogen tanks, which in most cases use normal compressed air. These are typically measured by the size of the tanks (in ci or cubic centimeters) and pressure (in psi or pounds per square inch). The larger the tank and the higher the PSI, the more shots you will get.  It’s worth noting that not all fields can fill the higher PSI tanks, so you may end up getting 3000psi fills on a 4500psi tank.

If you play a lot, or don’t play on a formal field, then you may want to consider having two tanks.  This will allow you to get both filled and allow you to keep playing if one breaks or is empty.  DO NOT attempt to repair a malfunctioning tank on your own.  Paintball tanks are under very high pressure and you may be injured or killed if you are not properly trained to service and repair tanks. Your local paintball shop or dive shop are good places to start when looking for someone to repair a tank.

7. Tools and Spare Parts – Most markers come with a few spare parts and tools needed to performance maintenance on the marker.  Make sure these stay in your bag.  In addition, most manufacturers sell parts kits which include more of the same parts, and in many cases other parts which you will want to have on hand in the event that they break. O-rings and cup seals are obvious items to have. An o-ring pick will help with removing damaged or broken o-rings that need replacing.  You will also want to have gun oil in your kit, which should be applied to the o-rings as well when you are replacing them or cleaning your marker.  Be sure to check if your marker requires or recommends a particular type of oil.

8. Batteries – If your marker is electronic, as more and more are these days, you will want to make sure you have spare batteries and a charger in your bag.  If your hopper requires batteries (many require 2), then you’ll want to account for those as well. I like to keep a fully charged set of batteries in my gun and hopper and another charged spare set as well. A rapid car charger can come in handy if your batteries die.   You’ll be out of play for a bit, but at least the whole day won’t be wasted.

Important: Be sure to check your markers guidelines to make sure you are using the right type of battery. Some are pretty specific about whether standard batteries should be used or the types of rechargeable batteries available.

9. Food and Water – If you are playing at a field, chances are that they will have snacks and drinks available for sale, and will probably offer some sort of lunch as well.  The key here is to be sure that you stay well hydrated.  Because many players choose to dress in layers to reduce the sting of being hit and are normally wearing masks, it’s easy to become overheated or dehydrated. This will bring and end to what would otherwise be a great day. If you are playing with friends in the woods, be sure to take drinks and snacks with you. Take the opportunity to grab a drink in between games and I guarantee you will last longer and feel better as the day progresses.

10. A Towel – It sounds minor, but I’ve found that a small towel comes in handy for wiping my face or my gun off between games.  It gives you something to lay your gun on if you want to avoid getting it scuffed up (though if you’re playing hard, it’s going to get scuffed up), and it’s good for wiping your hands off.

Having fun on the paintball field has a lot to do with how prepared you are to play.  A great paintball gun is nice, but if you don’t have everything you need to keep it and you in good working order, you’ll spend more time on the sidelines than the field. Having these items in your bag will go a long way toward keeping you safe and on the field. Play hard!



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Learn How Paintball Is An Invaluable Tool For The Military And Law Enforcement

M. Jedediah asked:


While paintball’s recreational side might receive more attention, this game isn’t just for play. It is also used by the military and police agencies for training exercises. This is an invaluable tool in training men and women for situations that might arise in the field.

From hostage situations to anti-terrorism, these types of training exercises help to prepare police and soldiers to make the right choices in the field. With paintball markers, when you make a mistake and are shot you get to try again. Unfortunately, when dealing with a real situation when mistakes are made and people are shot there’s no starting over.

Thankfully, we have these types of tools to help the men and women of the military and police agencies to train, although you can never know what to expect in any hostile situation. It’s these types of mock combat scenarios that prepare them for whatever situation may arise.

The game of paintball also has its recreational side. It is played by thousands of people from all points on the globe and on every type of terrain imaginable. The first and foremost scenario of the game is called “woods ball.” Just like its name, this game is played in the woods and as long as the teams are even, the limit of players is only restricted to how many players the field will hold.

Some games are held with specific scenarios and parameters. One team of players might have the mission of holding a fort while the other team is charged with taking the fort. There are many variations of this style of play and can be a great deal of fun for all.

Another variation of the game is called speed ball. This game is played in a much smaller area with manmade bunkers used as cover. These games are mostly elimination and are timed. The winner is the team with the most players left in play at the end of the time limit set by the referees. These games are very fast paced and are usually favored by the intermediate level players.

The next step up would be what’s called air ball. This game is played on a small field with inflatable bunkers. This is the type of game play which is sometimes televised on extreme sports cable stations. This type of game play is only recommended for people who have quite a bit of paintball experience under their belt.

Unlike woods ball, which usually has a 15-to-20 rule being the closest distance you can be to someone when you shoot them, there is no such rule in effect on the air ball field. You can, and it happens “bunker” your opponents, bunker simply means that you run up to someone and shoot them at point-blank range.

Also the markers in these types of paintball games are allowed to shoot at a much higher velocity. Simply put, it hurts more when you get hit on the air ball field. Yet even with that, air ball seems to be the most popular game style there is.

Offering both recreational and practical uses, paintball is a sport that continues to gain in popularity. From military training to backyard fun, the game has a worldwide following.



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How To Paintball – Paintballtips For Beginner

Paintball Tips asked:


Paintball is the fastest growing sports worldwide and every day thousands of new players join this exciting sport. Many might think it is an extreme sport – well, it is but there several differences to “normal” extreme sports. One of the major differences to regular extreme sports is that you hardly can survive a game on your own. Yes, you need to cooperate and communicate with your team-mates.

Have you ever been to one of these career assessment centres held by big companies when you apply for a job where your social behaviour, team spirit, leading skills are being tested? Guess what? I think they should exchange their entire psychological test against a round of paintball and then select their new staff. You have to be highly communicative, you need interpersonal skills to follow or organise a team.

For beginners, the most important thing to remember is to protect yourself. Many injuries with paintball have occurred. The number one paintball rule is: never ever take you mask off because the velocity of a paintball is high and it can easily damage your eyes. So, be careful when you are playing. To be a successful player you need to follow some further simple rules. Well, of course you need the right gear. Without a high quality gear it’s hard to win. But, I think knowledge and skills ‘how to paintball’ are even more important. It does not make sense to spend a fortune on gear, if you don’t know how hide effectively; playing in a team and so on. One question I came across many times is that beginners waste an awful amount of paintball. Unnecessary in my view ! If you have the right knowledge and skills you would use only a minimal amount of paintballs and still be the winner of the game.

I think it is also important that boys and girls have different strategies – by nature. Boys tend to use more paintballs whereas girls are think twice before they shoot, although the percentage of girls actively playing is



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Get Some Exercise Through the Game of Paintball

James Hunt asked:


If you’re going to play your first game of paintball there are some things that you’ll want to know to make the game easier for you and less frightening. Sometimes just knowing what to expect can help make the game more enjoyable. One of the first things that you’ll want to remember is to always leave your mask on your face. This is a huge safety factor that you won’t want to ignore. A paintball moves with such great force and speed that you’ll certainly damage your eye if you’re hit. You may think that the paintball will hurt when it hits you and this isn’t true at all. You will, however, feel those paintballs on the next day so be prepared for some soreness and bruising. If you have the opportunity to play with the paintball gun before you use it in an actual game you’ll be able to get a feel for the gun and know just how far you can shoot. Otherwise it will be a guessing game for you the first time around.

Try to wear clothing that is dark rather than light in color. If you wear bright colors, in particular white, you’ll stand out like a sore thumb and be killed in no time! You’ll also want to wear comfortable shoes that give you a great deal of gripping action so that you don’t slide around on the ground. This is especially true when the ground is wet from the rain. Follow the rules carefully and don’t cheat. Experienced paintball players **** cheaters and you certainly won’t be invited back to play another game. Take it easy for the first game or two that you play until you get a feel for the way the gun feels and a bit more experience for feeling like you’re being hunted. The game of paintball is a great way to get some exercise and spend some time outdoors.



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Paintball Tactics Of Professional Paintball Players

Gregg Hall asked:


If you are going to really get into the sport of playing paintball you are going to want to learn some tactics that will help you to survive longer on the field as well as have a better chance of winning more games. Here are some tactics used by professional paintball players that you can adapt to be better on your local paintball field.

When shooting the best method to use is to pepper the opposing player while moving aggressively towards their position. By doing this you will keep them from being able to fire and will keep them hiding behind a protective barrier while you move in closer for a guaranteed kill.

Learning how to use the defensive tactic of cover effectively is probably the most important aspect of paintball. Everything that exists on a paintball field can be used as cover in some way. You want to stand or crouch during moments of covering so that you remain mobile in case someone is trying to sneak up on you. Just remember that on most fields standing straight up also increases your chances of being shot, especially if you are tall! Crouching has a little less mobility but it gives you better cover and still gives you some level of stability.

Coming up from behind or flanking is a very important tactic to learn as it can be used in just about every situation you get into. You can even use this tactic to counter another team’s flanking maneuver as they break away from their attack to protect themselves.

The skill of suppression isn’t meant for taking out an opponent or team but more for the purpose of a distraction. This technique is often used in conjunction with a flanking maneuver or outright advance. You have to have really good marksmanship as well as good cover skills for suppression to work effectively. The whole function of suppressing is to keep the opponent preoccupied so they don’t notice your assault.

When invading an opponent’s position your goal is to eliminate as many targets as possible without getting hit to capture their flag and escape back to your side unscathed. Working together is the best way to accomplish this just as it is in a real combat situation.

When you are under cover and about to fire just remember that once you begin firing you have revealed your location to the enemy. Now, you have to take the fight to them and avoid being pinned down. If you learn these tactics it will also help you to defend against them.



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How to Make Paintballs

davemathews asked:


There are quite a few different opinions that are out there when it comes to how to make paintballs yourself at home. You might also get a few questioning glances about why you even want to bother taking all of that time to make your own paintballs. You need to remember to make your paintballs small enough to fit into the barrel of any of the paintball guns out there. Make no mistake about it you are going to be much better served by making reusable paintballs out of modeling clay (because it is durable) that you can use over and over again (for a while at least).

Some would say that making your own reusable paintballs is more economical; while others say that the single use paintballs that are commercially available are the best. If you are making your own paintballs according to the popular how to make paintballs guides and articles many will advise you that Crayola’s Model Magic Modeling Clay is the best thing to use to make a reusable paintball that is durable and workable; while other guides will advise you to create a shell out of silicone tubing or another easy to work material (like the gelatin based material that commercial paintballs are made from) that you would fill with paint that is both water-soluble and friendly and messy colorful enough to really make their presence known, seen and felt when you get hit by them. Firing any of these types of paintballs out of the popular paintball guns is easy to do.

The paintball that you make yourself is not going to be as perfect as those that you can buy that are commercially made; yet that is the beauty of it as well. If you already have some type of mold made to shape the shells of your paintballs you are halfway there. You need to remember to make the paintballs the right size to fit into the barrel of the paintball gun that you are likely to be using. You also need to remember that there are different sizes and calibers of paintball guns just like there are in regular guns that shoot bullets. It has been said (and easily proven by doing a search) that there are so many different how to make paintballs articles that you could refer to so that you have a better idea about how to go about making your own paintballs.

Making your own paintball mold is pretty easy (or so some of the available how to make paintballs articles and guides state) and does not take that much time or cost that much. Those of you that have paintball guns and want to get involved with all of the excitement of the various paintball tournaments and get into some pretty wicked paintball fights with your friends need to remember that paintball come in as many sizes as the guns themselves do; and are measured in calibers (just as bullets are). Too large a paintball will not fit in your gun; and too small will not go anywhere.  



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Aiming For The Kill: Finding The Perfect Paintball Gun

Riley Hendersen asked:


So you’ve joined a few paintball games and now the adrenaline rush is in your blood. You want to be more than just a casual gamer, and so that brings up the question of what you should buy for equipment. The first obvious piece is the paintball gun. But how can you know which gun is right for you?

Purchasing the right paintball gun is a big step, and can be a pretty steep financial price depending on how expensive or advanced a weapon you want to buy. One of the things you should do is play with as many rented guns or borrowed guns as possible. There is a very wide variety of paintball guns from expensive to cheap, and some very good cheap ones, and you want to find the ones that you are comfortable with. This is also the right time to figure out your budget. There is no point in finding the perfect $700 gun if you aren’t willing to spend more than $200.

Don’t forget to ask the experts around you about what they think as far as paintball guns. Find out what fellow paintball enthusiasts at paintball fields, stores, and clubs think. Don’t only find out which guns they like and dislike, but find out the reasons for each individual’s opinions. Some may like their gun overall, but not like certain features. Decide the size and type of paintball loader you want. A bigger loader holds more balls, but is heavier. Are you a sniper, or a “spray and pray” type? This makes a difference as to which guns, models, and accessories are best for you.

A major decision to make involving paintball guns is how long a barrel you want on your paintball gun. A longer barrel is generally slightly more accurate, but this is only true to a certain extent. A barrel is more accurate to about 14 inches. There are several ones around 21, but these are showy, and are not a good idea. Most experts agree that after 14 inches the extra length doesn’t help at all, and it leaves a much larger target for other players to hit.

Once your order a paintball gun, be sure to learn everything about it. You should learn how to completely take apart the gun, and then put it back together. You should know how to clean it, load it, fire it, and repeat. It is always good to know this before extensive use. There are some great cheap paintball guns, but there are many more that are junk, so be sure to do your homework before making a purchase.

Buying a paintball gun can be a great experience, but you don’t want to spend a lot of money on a cheap piece of crap, and likewise you don’t want to spend a lot of money on a gun that just doesn’t fit your style. Do your research, take your time to figure out what type of paintball gun best fits your personality, then buy it. The perfect model paintball gun will make you a far happier player than a mismatch.



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How to Make a Paintball Bazooka

davemathews asked:


If you are looking for good how to make a paintball bazooka information, you will find that many of the websites you are looking at really do not give you the quality information that you are really looking for and need. We have all been there when looking for information about these very powerful paintball guns (or anything else for that matter). Those that are looking for the best information about the type and size paintball that needs to be used in the paintball bazooka that you are in the process of making will also find out that there are so many different references.

You only need to remember a few things when it comes to how to make a paintball bazooka: use good quality materials to start with for the best quality paintball guns and know what you are doing when it comes to making your own paintball gun from scratch or customizing an already manufactured paintball gun. If you are not that great at working with cutting and welding steel, you are going to be better off to choose a paintball gun that is already made and start to customize it to what you need. Are you looking to be able to shoot more than one paintball at a time (you know, more like dozens at a time)? If this is the case, you might want to think about creating a multiple barrel (two is the minimum and six would be the maximum) setup so that you can really have some fun. Those that are involved in paintball tournaments or huge paintball fights will have good fun being able to pick off your opponents rather quickly using a multiple barreled gun.

Remember this when you are looking for good information on how to make a paintball bazooka please remember that not everything out there is designed and/or written for those that are true beginners in this arena. You will find out that some of the information out there is intended for those that are at least familiar with the subject and paintball guns in particular and speak from that angle. Those who are totally new to this fun and exciting entertainment need to have step-by-step directions that are specifically designed and written for those who have no real knowledge about what part of a paintball gun is which. What really helps is when you know where the paintball goes.

Knowing where the paintball gets loaded in paintball guns is a good starting point. The best thing that you can do when looking at any of the how to make a paintball bazooka articles and lists is to see if it gives you specific step-by-step directions about making (or modifying) your own paintball gun. Those that are looking to change a single barrel paintball gun into a multi-barrel need to have specific step-by-step instructions as far as what you need to do when you are making a conversion like that. There is nothing wrong with saying that you are a beginner or new to something, that is how you get good information.



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