Mark Etinger asked:


The fact that Paintball involves a gun – doesn’t automatically turn it into a dangerous sport. Not at all. Horseback riding can be much more risky. Heck, even playing Scrabble at home can be more dangerous than Paintball, especially if you go for a word that has more than 10 letters in it. People tend to think that Paintball is dangerous because it seems like a violent sport. But Paintball has everything a fine sport should have, whether it’s physical activity, strategy or healthy competition – Paintball really sticks out.

Paintball can be dangerous at times, but only if a player will not follow the basic safety rules. So before playing Paintball, the next safety instructions should be taken into serious consideration.

Respect the Game. A baseball bat can send balls out of the field, but it can also knock off mailboxes. Paintball guns should be used for only one thing – playing Paintball. Never shoot Paintball guns at home or at your friends. Don’t use the guns except for practice or while playing. Do not even think about shooting or practicing on animals. It’s dangerous, illegal and really not funny. You want even make it on youtube. Play only in designated areas and avoid practicing around population. If you play outside an organized Paintball field, find a secluded field or forest and make sure that no one that shouldn’t be there is around. Protect Yourself – Wear a helmet at all times. Even if it seems that Paintball doesn’t really hurt your body, a direct hit can pop your eye out. Oh, and your dad’s safety goggles that you found in the garage – are not suitable for Paintball.  Protect your throat and ears most, but wearing heavier clothes is also preferred. Replace your gear – if you find a ***** in the mask, don’t use it. Never use a damaged CO2 tank as well. Paintball is a sport! Treat it that way. Starch before you play and drink a lot of water. Don’t engage in any unsportsmanlike activity. Be fair to yourself and to your friends and don’t fool around. “I didn’t think my gun is loaded” isn’t good enough! Never aim at anybody for fun, even if you think your gun is not loaded. When you finish playing, empty the gun and turn the safety switch on. Have someone in charge. Appoint a referee and give him a whistle. He should be the only one who can start the game and the one to end it, especially if something wrong happens. Make sure that your marker does not exceed the 300 fps limit. Setting the gun to shoot in higher speeds can be very dangerous to other players. Don’t be a private gun manufacturer. Don’t turn your vacuum cleaner into a marker. Don’t make your own paintballs and don’t even think about using frozen Paintballs. Don’t try to fix your own gun as well. If you have trouble with the air pressure, have an expert take a look at it. The air system can be dangerous to you and your friends. Never shoot anyone at close range! This one was picked at a Paintball forum – Don’t eat the paintballs. Yes, it sounds ridiculous, but forget the fact that they are dangerous to your body – they also taste awful and the red ones are not strawberry flavored!

If you need to gear up and stock yourself with important Paintball accessories, check out www.choicepaintballguns.com. You’ll find the perfect safety accessories and upgrades for your current paintball gun, as well as kits, supplies, ammo and lots of fun products – all sold at affordable prices. Remember to be the best Paintballer out there, and be a responsible one.

Resource Box: Whether you’re into competition Speedball or tactical Woodsball, ChoicePaintballGuns.com offers the best paintball guns at affordable prices. Thousands of cheap paintball guns are available from the most popular brand names as well as custom paintball gun upgrades, kits, supplies, ammo and accessories.



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Lee Dobbins asked:


All set and ready to go? Got your gun, balls and hoppers with you? Then you are ready to play…But wait, you are going to a fight and you do not go out there without the necessary precautions and tools. You don’t want to be caught in a war zone with your pants down, do you?

So here are 10 things you should go without when playing paintball:

1. Paintball mask

Not safety goggles, sun glasses or shooting glasses, you need a paintball mask. You just can’t play without this safety gear. A thermal mask is recommended but it you want to save some money get the single lens with an anti-fog coating.

Make sure the mask fits perfectly on your face and that you are comfortable wearing them on. Remember that you will be running and shooting with the mask on so make sure it does not get in the way. A mask that covers your ears is also a good idea, but make sure that your hearing is not impaired by the ear flaps.

2. Barrel cover

Sometimes called as barrel plug or barrel sock, this is simply a blocking device that prevents a misfire from your gun. Remember injuries can result from accidents such as a misfire. No organized field will let you play without one.

3. Spare tank

Your gun is powered by carbon dioxide or nitrogen. For pumps and pistols, a 12 gram cartridge is used. This is good for 15 to30 shots. So it is a good idea to have a spare tank with you just in case you run out of air. A 20oz cylinder or tank is usually good for 1000 shots or more. Get a refillable tank to save money.

4. Squeegee

A barrel break can ruin your momentum and your game. Make sure you are prepared and have a squeegee in hand to clean your gun barrel to get yourself back in the game. It is also a good idea to have a spare squeegee with you on the field.

5. Gun oil

Not just any gun oil, but a paintball gun oil. Before buying one consult your gun’s manual and see if it requires a specific kind of oil. Remember that your gun’s performance depends on its parts. Put a few drops of gun oil in the o-rings and other parts of the gun as recommended in the manual to keep your gun in good running condition.

6. O-rings and cup seals

These tiny parts are crucial to your gun’s performance, but they tend to break easily. Have a few spares in your kit just in case they give in during the game. You will find that most gun problems can be solved by simply replacing these small parts.

7. Safety equipment (neck and shin, elbow and knee pads, gloves)

Remember that Paintball is an aggressive game. You need to be constantly on the move when you are in the field. Safety precautions like neck and shin guards protect your body from unnecessary injuries. Make sure that they are lightweight and anatomical tailored for comfort.

8. Batteries

If your gun or hopper runs on batteries, make sure you have spare ones when you are on the field. You don’t want to be left in a situation where your gun is dead and you have no where to hide. Not a pretty picture.

9. Miscellaneous tools

These tools can simplify your life in and out of the field. Allen wrenches, tweezers, ***** drivers even Teflon and cotton swabs can be useful things in your kit. These are your gun’s first aid tools. Remember, this is a game and usually the winners are those who often come prepared.

10. First aid kit

Although relatively safer than golf, tennis, jogging or swimming (according to insurance statistics), paintball is still an active game. Have a first aid kit in your gear, it pays to be ready in unexpected circumstances.

Whether you are a beginner or an expert on the field, your success will greatly depend on the kind of gears you have and how equipped you are from unexpected situations like mechanical glitches in your gun or some paint on your face. Be prepared so you can enjoy your game to the fullest.



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Masni Rizal Mansor asked:


An airsoft paintball gun can change the way you play survival games. Imagine creeping through the forest with nothing but your airsoft paintball gun and safety goggles to protect you from the vicious onslaught of the other side. You are ducking and weaving like a professional, half out of urgency because the last thing you need it to get pegged with a pellet and half out of expertise because you have the wide-eyed enthusiasm of a professional officer of paintball fame and glory on your side. You calmly duck behind a tree, ready and waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Perhaps you’re using an M16 version of an airsoft paintball gun or perhaps it is the classic AK 47 version. Regardless, you are certainly locked and loaded as you wait for your targets to scramble out from behind their covering subterfuge. Your heart is pounding and your eyes are wide and ready for battle. You can almost smell your enemy and yet you do not want to pounce too soon or you will lose it all. You’ve gained some ground, hiding behind this last vestibule of neutral territory, and you’re on the verge of breaking in to the enemy base and freeing your captain with your airsoft paintball gun.

The Last Stand

You emerge finally ready to face the enemy on your own with your firing power from the airsoft paintball gun. You have the scope primed and start targeting the enemy in blue as you see them scramble over a hill at the sight of your presence. With the prowess and skill of a master sniper, you start picking off the enemy as they run foolishly with their backs to you. You emerge slightly from the tree, firing away and nailing one by one of the blue shirts with your vicious repeat fire from the automatic airsoft paintball gun. Once you have emptied the paintballs from the chamber, you duck back behind the log to reload.

Ready and anxious, you step out from the log and stand. Nobody appears to be around and you smile to yourself, thinking you have taken care of business once and for all. With one final breath, you prepare to stalk over the hill and check your opponent’s last fortress of solitude before they mount a final stand. You take a step forward, hearing a twig crack, and experiencing the sudden sting of pain as a paintball (a red one) sizzles out of an airsoft paintball gun and plants on you squarely in the chest. You’re hit.



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kevin asked:


 

 

Aside from the paintball gun, the paintball mask is the most important piece of kit you will invest in. Although the number of serious injuries in paintball is low compared with other sports, they can be severe. A paintball travelling at 300 feet per second can do a lot of damage, particularly to the sensitive head area. It is essential that you protect your eyes and ears from injury with a good quality mask.

Regular glasses, sun glasses, ski masks, safety goggles and shooting glasses are not sufficient to protect you from fast flying paintballs. You need an appropriate, purpose made paintball mask ,manufactured to strict industry regulations to withstand the speed of a paintball.

Your paintball mask needs to provide adequate protection whilst still feeling comfortable. If your mask is uncomfortable it will be a distraction and will impair your ability to play well. There should be cushioning around the outer edges of the mask to keep it in place and ensure a comfortable fit.

Your mask should fit well. Paintball is an extremely active sport. Your mask needs to fit securely to withstand many different manoeuvres. You will need to be able to run, twist, turn, dive and crawl without dislodging your mask. If you wear glasses, check that your mask will fit over them comfortably.

Another thing to consider when choosing a suitable paintball mask is your field of vision. Whilst safety must come first, You still need to have a wide, clear vision in order to play successfully. You need to have a good peripheral vision to protect you from surprise attacks from the side. You should also be able to see clearly through the gun sight without the mask getting in the way.

Ideally your mask should be anti-fog to avoid steaming up in the heat of battle. Some paintball masks have a film on them to prevent them misting over. Better still are thermal masks. These are layered masks with an air cushion between the layers to keep your vision crystal clear at all times.

Just as it is important to protect and enhance your vision, it is also crucial to protect your ears without impairing your hearing. Your paintball mask should cover the whole head to avoid you being struck on any sensitive spot. Some masks can be customized with ear flaps . Whichever mask you choose, check that you can still hear properly to prevent you being crept up on. You need to be alert and have all your senses sharp to play paintball well.

Paintball packages offer an ideal start up kit for players new to the sport and are ideal if you’re on a budget. All good packages will include a paintball mask. However, It is important not to compromise on the quality of the mask for the convenience and value of the package deal. The mask is an essential piece of equipment and must be selected wisely. If the mask is no good, it is a false economy to go for the package.

Paintball masks come in a variety of colours and styles. As cool as some look, safety must be your first concern. You would be well advised to invest in a top quality mask rather than having to continually replace cheaper versions.

 

 



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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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