Paintball Guns
Jason Smith asked:
Paintball guns are the primary equipment in paintball game. This is also called paintball marker and they generally use compressed air or carbon dioxide to release paintballs through the barrel. Most of the paintball guns have 4 main parts that includes the body, gas system, hopper and barrel. All these come in a package, you may also buy separate. Paintball guns are usually known as paintball marker as people often think it as a deadly sport.
Description of the Paintball guns:
Most of the paintball guns have a body made of aluminum as this metal significantly lowers the weight of the marker. The body comprises of all the main parts essential for firing, like trigger frame, loaders, valve and bolt.
Trigger frames – are an integral feature of these paintball guns. One can achieve high firing rates depending on the force required to fire from the marker and also the space the trigger moves before the action takes place. Electronic trigger frames are expensive and have different advantages like sensing abilities. It affects the rate of firing and records a very high rate. There are also non-electric guns that use mechanical trigger frame and uses a number of levers and springs.
Valve and bolt – this combination assists to fire the gun or marker. The valve and the bolt control firing and direct airflow allowing the paintballs enter the chamber.
Hoppers or loaders:
These are responsible to hold paintballs before they are fired from the gun. These are several types – force feed, agitating, gravity speed and stick feed. The first three are quite popular and stick feeds are generally used for pump paintball guns. Gravity feed is cheaper and also simpler form of hopper. Agitating feeds use propeller that spins inside the container and agitate the paintballs. Stick feeds are positioned parallel to the barrel and in order to load the next paintball, the marker ahs to be tipped.
Propellers:
The tank consists of carbon dioxide or compressed gas that dismisses the paintballs through the barrel. Carbon dioxide is mostly used in cheap paintball guns. Whereas, compressed air is stored in tanks under high pressure, so it is suitable for expensive markers.
Barrels:
Barrels control the airflow and direct the paintballs out of it. These are generally in three types of configuration – one-piece, two-piece, and three- piece. Barrels are mostly 21 inches long but you can also get custom made barrels of 48 inches as well. These longer barrels are quieter than the shorter ones as they let extra gas pass out slowly. The interior diameter of the barrel is called a bore and it should match the paint otherwise it will give incorrect results.
Trigger mode:
There are different types of triggering modes available, some are pump action markers and some fully automatic. Pump paintball guns are like pump action shotguns that need to be manually re-cocked after every shot. This is a slower version among all the paintball guns and often players choose it for effective shots. It can fire in extremely steady rate if adapted properly. Semi-automatic trigger versions are also equally common for different purposes.
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Paintball guns are the primary equipment in paintball game. This is also called paintball marker and they generally use compressed air or carbon dioxide to release paintballs through the barrel. Most of the paintball guns have 4 main parts that includes the body, gas system, hopper and barrel. All these come in a package, you may also buy separate. Paintball guns are usually known as paintball marker as people often think it as a deadly sport.
Description of the Paintball guns:
Most of the paintball guns have a body made of aluminum as this metal significantly lowers the weight of the marker. The body comprises of all the main parts essential for firing, like trigger frame, loaders, valve and bolt.
Trigger frames – are an integral feature of these paintball guns. One can achieve high firing rates depending on the force required to fire from the marker and also the space the trigger moves before the action takes place. Electronic trigger frames are expensive and have different advantages like sensing abilities. It affects the rate of firing and records a very high rate. There are also non-electric guns that use mechanical trigger frame and uses a number of levers and springs.
Valve and bolt – this combination assists to fire the gun or marker. The valve and the bolt control firing and direct airflow allowing the paintballs enter the chamber.
Hoppers or loaders:
These are responsible to hold paintballs before they are fired from the gun. These are several types – force feed, agitating, gravity speed and stick feed. The first three are quite popular and stick feeds are generally used for pump paintball guns. Gravity feed is cheaper and also simpler form of hopper. Agitating feeds use propeller that spins inside the container and agitate the paintballs. Stick feeds are positioned parallel to the barrel and in order to load the next paintball, the marker ahs to be tipped.
Propellers:
The tank consists of carbon dioxide or compressed gas that dismisses the paintballs through the barrel. Carbon dioxide is mostly used in cheap paintball guns. Whereas, compressed air is stored in tanks under high pressure, so it is suitable for expensive markers.
Barrels:
Barrels control the airflow and direct the paintballs out of it. These are generally in three types of configuration – one-piece, two-piece, and three- piece. Barrels are mostly 21 inches long but you can also get custom made barrels of 48 inches as well. These longer barrels are quieter than the shorter ones as they let extra gas pass out slowly. The interior diameter of the barrel is called a bore and it should match the paint otherwise it will give incorrect results.
Trigger mode:
There are different types of triggering modes available, some are pump action markers and some fully automatic. Pump paintball guns are like pump action shotguns that need to be manually re-cocked after every shot. This is a slower version among all the paintball guns and often players choose it for effective shots. It can fire in extremely steady rate if adapted properly. Semi-automatic trigger versions are also equally common for different purposes.
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What You Need to Know About Paintball Guns
Michael Contaro asked:
Paintball is becoming one of the most loved hobbies today. With exciting game play and awesome equipment options, paintball sure is a hobby that should be explored.
The heart of a paintball game is the paintball gun. Without the gun, the game play of paintball would be rather boring. Paintball guns are filled with paint (what else) and uses a gas which expands rapidly (like carbon dioxide) to propel the paint balls into the target. The air can propel a ball through the air at approximately 300 feet per second. This is the appropriate speed for a paint ball so as to make it break when it comes in contact with a target and to avoid tissue damage upon contact.
There are several components that comprise the paintball gun. These are:
a) Body b) Barrel c) hopper d) tank
There are many different customizations that one can do with his paintball gun. A person can choose from a variety of guns with different specifications and features. There are paintball guns out there that have a firing system which is electro-pneumatic, which means that the firing system is electronically controlled. There are also sear trippers which utilizes a hammer which slams into the valve containing the bullet which propels it into target. There are also paint guns out there which utilize the power of the gas to propel the ball into the air.
When it comes to the barrels of paintball guns, they usually come in 12, 16, 18 or 20 inches. There are also people out there who were able to order customized paintball gun barrels which can reach up to 40 inches! People opt to have longer barrels because these barrels make less noise than the shorter ones because they limit the escape of excess gas.
However, there’s no difference in terms of accuracy or noise reduction qualities when it comes to comparing a 16-inch barrel to a 40-inch barrel. The problem with very long barrels is that it can slow a player down quite significantly.
Paintball guns also come in different firing modes. Some paintball guns have pump action, but this type of gun is not for the player who seeks speed because it requires manual cocking. However, it is a good gun have when learning the basics of paintball because it focuses on skills and not on fire power. There are also semi-automatic paintball guns in the market. It reloads a new paintball whenever the trigger is pulled. The fully automatic paintball guns give a lot of fire power. These guns will reload and fire automatic rounds as long as the trigger is pulled.
Here are some tips on how to choose a paintball gun:
1. Know your budget
As with any other hobby, one must define his budget for buying a paintball gun. The guns in the market can cost from a hundred dollars to less than a thousand. Guns which are semi-automatic and fully automatic ones use more gas than the manually reloaded ones. These factors should all be considered when defining one’s budget.
2. Be practical
If it’s possible for a player to play with a borrowed gun, he might as well do that and rethink about buying a brand new one.
3. Shop for second-hand guns
Another option is to buy a second-hand paintball gun. These guns are usually good enough to play decently without digging a deep hole in one’s pockets.
4. Ask the best buy
If one is too enthusiastic about getting a brand new gun, he should consult his buddies regarding what gun gives quality performance at a reasonable price.
These are some simple tips which can be overlooked sometimes. Remember that paintball is just a hobby, a great one if I may say but it’s not something that should waste one’s money away. Be wise and have fun.
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Paintball is becoming one of the most loved hobbies today. With exciting game play and awesome equipment options, paintball sure is a hobby that should be explored.
The heart of a paintball game is the paintball gun. Without the gun, the game play of paintball would be rather boring. Paintball guns are filled with paint (what else) and uses a gas which expands rapidly (like carbon dioxide) to propel the paint balls into the target. The air can propel a ball through the air at approximately 300 feet per second. This is the appropriate speed for a paint ball so as to make it break when it comes in contact with a target and to avoid tissue damage upon contact.
There are several components that comprise the paintball gun. These are:
a) Body b) Barrel c) hopper d) tank
There are many different customizations that one can do with his paintball gun. A person can choose from a variety of guns with different specifications and features. There are paintball guns out there that have a firing system which is electro-pneumatic, which means that the firing system is electronically controlled. There are also sear trippers which utilizes a hammer which slams into the valve containing the bullet which propels it into target. There are also paint guns out there which utilize the power of the gas to propel the ball into the air.
When it comes to the barrels of paintball guns, they usually come in 12, 16, 18 or 20 inches. There are also people out there who were able to order customized paintball gun barrels which can reach up to 40 inches! People opt to have longer barrels because these barrels make less noise than the shorter ones because they limit the escape of excess gas.
However, there’s no difference in terms of accuracy or noise reduction qualities when it comes to comparing a 16-inch barrel to a 40-inch barrel. The problem with very long barrels is that it can slow a player down quite significantly.
Paintball guns also come in different firing modes. Some paintball guns have pump action, but this type of gun is not for the player who seeks speed because it requires manual cocking. However, it is a good gun have when learning the basics of paintball because it focuses on skills and not on fire power. There are also semi-automatic paintball guns in the market. It reloads a new paintball whenever the trigger is pulled. The fully automatic paintball guns give a lot of fire power. These guns will reload and fire automatic rounds as long as the trigger is pulled.
Here are some tips on how to choose a paintball gun:
1. Know your budget
As with any other hobby, one must define his budget for buying a paintball gun. The guns in the market can cost from a hundred dollars to less than a thousand. Guns which are semi-automatic and fully automatic ones use more gas than the manually reloaded ones. These factors should all be considered when defining one’s budget.
2. Be practical
If it’s possible for a player to play with a borrowed gun, he might as well do that and rethink about buying a brand new one.
3. Shop for second-hand guns
Another option is to buy a second-hand paintball gun. These guns are usually good enough to play decently without digging a deep hole in one’s pockets.
4. Ask the best buy
If one is too enthusiastic about getting a brand new gun, he should consult his buddies regarding what gun gives quality performance at a reasonable price.
These are some simple tips which can be overlooked sometimes. Remember that paintball is just a hobby, a great one if I may say but it’s not something that should waste one’s money away. Be wise and have fun.
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Airsoft Vs. Paintball
Justin Kander asked:
Airsoft and paintball are pretty similar sports, and they can be played exactly the same way. There are a few key differences, such as that airsoft is used more in military and law enforcement reenactments than paintball. In this sense, gameplay can differ, but people use paintball guns for reenactments as well (just not as often). If you look at the big picture, the games aren’t that different, but sometimes strategy and tactics must be changed depending on the specs of your and your opponent’s gun.
The guns used in airsoft and paintball differ greatly. Paintball guns have a hopper that you pour paintballs into, while airsoft guns use clips. Therefore, loading and unloading is usually easier in airsoft, as is carrying around extra clips. In paintball, you need to have a vest or belt to put large cylinders of paintballs into. That doesn’t mean that airsoft has paintball trumped in this category. Paintball guns can usually carry more ammo than an airsoft gun, and you can still reload relatively quickly.
Ammunition; paintballs in paintball, 6mm BBs in airsoft. This is an important thing to consider. In a forest, there are many tiny branches that can break paintballs, thus stopping them from reaching their target. You have to find a very open area without any obstructions. Airsoft pellets are very small and the likelihood of them hitting tiny obstacles is miniscule. Also, in many cases they can be more accurate than paintballs, so it may not take as much time for a game to end as it might with paintball. The speed, in FPS, of airsoft is also usually higher (between 300fps and 400fps). It can be as low as 120fps, but that isn’t very efficient in an airsoft game. Paintballs can also be dodged; it doesn’t happen often, but if you see one coming toward you in advance it is easy to move out of the way. Airsoft pellets are too small to see at a high-speed, and dodging is basically out of the question. Therefore, overall, in the case of ammunition, airsoft has the advantage.
The next item on the list is maneuverability. Airsoft guns are definitely easy to hold and run with, while with paintball there are big and bulky external CO2 and N2 (or compressed air) containers. Also, the hopper can sometimes get in the way. One gets used to how paintball guns are made, but shooting an airsoft gun is, well, somewhat of a relief. Some people have made advanced apparatuses where CO2 is on their backs, and a tube from the paintball gun coils around into the tank on their back. I personally saw a man with two paintball guns, each with two tubes extending from the guns to the back-CO2 tanks. It was pretty cool. Anyways, it is clear that airsoft beats paintball in maneuverability.
Another important thing is maintenance. Paintball guns you do need to oil, clean, and of course refill CO2 (depending on how much you play, frequently). If you have a gas airsoft gun, that will also needed to be refilled, but electric and spring airsoft guns require no gas at all. Both kinds of guns can break if not properly maintained. Paintball guns need the barrel regularly cleaned, although that is relatively simple. Most of the time, paintball guns have more parts than airsoft guns, and they may be more costly to repair, but crucial problems rarely occur in either gun type.
The thing about airsoft is people can cheat very easily. In paintball, the ball explodes and the paint is very visible on the person. Sure, one could wipe off the paint, but people rarely risk it because if they are caught, well, they are in trouble. However, somebody can get hit in airsoft and just shake it off. If there are two very competitive people playing, and they keep getting hit, one or the other can’t really prove it, unless they are close enough up to see the pellet hit the person. Airsoft relies on the honesty system, and sometimes that isn’t enough. 6mm paintballs are always an option, but they can break in the barrel, and that causes problems.
The superior product really is a matter of opinion, as there is no clear-cut winner. Each type of gun has its own advantages and disadvantages. Usually, if you start with paintball, you’ll stick with paintball, and likewise with airsoft.
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Airsoft and paintball are pretty similar sports, and they can be played exactly the same way. There are a few key differences, such as that airsoft is used more in military and law enforcement reenactments than paintball. In this sense, gameplay can differ, but people use paintball guns for reenactments as well (just not as often). If you look at the big picture, the games aren’t that different, but sometimes strategy and tactics must be changed depending on the specs of your and your opponent’s gun.
The guns used in airsoft and paintball differ greatly. Paintball guns have a hopper that you pour paintballs into, while airsoft guns use clips. Therefore, loading and unloading is usually easier in airsoft, as is carrying around extra clips. In paintball, you need to have a vest or belt to put large cylinders of paintballs into. That doesn’t mean that airsoft has paintball trumped in this category. Paintball guns can usually carry more ammo than an airsoft gun, and you can still reload relatively quickly.
Ammunition; paintballs in paintball, 6mm BBs in airsoft. This is an important thing to consider. In a forest, there are many tiny branches that can break paintballs, thus stopping them from reaching their target. You have to find a very open area without any obstructions. Airsoft pellets are very small and the likelihood of them hitting tiny obstacles is miniscule. Also, in many cases they can be more accurate than paintballs, so it may not take as much time for a game to end as it might with paintball. The speed, in FPS, of airsoft is also usually higher (between 300fps and 400fps). It can be as low as 120fps, but that isn’t very efficient in an airsoft game. Paintballs can also be dodged; it doesn’t happen often, but if you see one coming toward you in advance it is easy to move out of the way. Airsoft pellets are too small to see at a high-speed, and dodging is basically out of the question. Therefore, overall, in the case of ammunition, airsoft has the advantage.
The next item on the list is maneuverability. Airsoft guns are definitely easy to hold and run with, while with paintball there are big and bulky external CO2 and N2 (or compressed air) containers. Also, the hopper can sometimes get in the way. One gets used to how paintball guns are made, but shooting an airsoft gun is, well, somewhat of a relief. Some people have made advanced apparatuses where CO2 is on their backs, and a tube from the paintball gun coils around into the tank on their back. I personally saw a man with two paintball guns, each with two tubes extending from the guns to the back-CO2 tanks. It was pretty cool. Anyways, it is clear that airsoft beats paintball in maneuverability.
Another important thing is maintenance. Paintball guns you do need to oil, clean, and of course refill CO2 (depending on how much you play, frequently). If you have a gas airsoft gun, that will also needed to be refilled, but electric and spring airsoft guns require no gas at all. Both kinds of guns can break if not properly maintained. Paintball guns need the barrel regularly cleaned, although that is relatively simple. Most of the time, paintball guns have more parts than airsoft guns, and they may be more costly to repair, but crucial problems rarely occur in either gun type.
The thing about airsoft is people can cheat very easily. In paintball, the ball explodes and the paint is very visible on the person. Sure, one could wipe off the paint, but people rarely risk it because if they are caught, well, they are in trouble. However, somebody can get hit in airsoft and just shake it off. If there are two very competitive people playing, and they keep getting hit, one or the other can’t really prove it, unless they are close enough up to see the pellet hit the person. Airsoft relies on the honesty system, and sometimes that isn’t enough. 6mm paintballs are always an option, but they can break in the barrel, and that causes problems.
The superior product really is a matter of opinion, as there is no clear-cut winner. Each type of gun has its own advantages and disadvantages. Usually, if you start with paintball, you’ll stick with paintball, and likewise with airsoft.
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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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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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