Sometimes considered the ultimate “man game”; paintballing is typically a team sport wherein players shoot paintball’s at each other and when opposing players are hit they are out of the game. The basic goal of paintball is to remove opposing players from the game and capture the opponent’s “team flag” and return it to the home base of the prevailing team. When such events occur a “Win” is established.
Some of the most frequently asked questions about the sport / game are as follows:
What’s it cost? A day of paintball generally costs about $50.00 in the event that you use a rental type facility which is popular in many areas. This will depend on what rental gear is needed and how many paint balls a player shoots during the day; another major factor is whether or not you are able to use your own equipment during the event.
A Game can last as little as one minute for intense spectator-style “speed-ball” games, or up to 24 hours of non-stop action for a weekend-long event. The average recreational game in the woods lasts between 15 minutes to an hour. A game played on a tournament-style field lasts about three to ten minutes.
Are Stains a Problem? Simple answer, no. Hits easily wipe off your clothing and skin, and any residue left on your clothes comes out in the wash. Marks left by paintball's also wash off trees and grass after a rain shower and by the way, most paintball's manufactured today are eco-friendly.
Often the first question asked by new players is “dose it hurt”? When you get hit by a paintball, it generally “stings” or “smarts” just a little; especially if you’re within 20 feet and the hit is directly on the skin. This may result in a small welt or bruise. The best comparison for what it feels like is perhaps like flipping yourself with a rubber band. Because of this, Paintball is recommended for individuals of at least twelve years of age or older. If hits worry you, then we suggest wearing extra protective padding, such as knee pads, elbow pads, gloves, chest protectors, neck protectors, and, of course, approved paintball masks to protect your eyes and face as “head gear” is considered mandatory safety equipment.
Have you decided yet to make the leap into the extreme sport of paintball? Are you in need of a paintball gun or “marker” as the industry now calls them, but you’re not exactly sure what to look for? If the answers are yes, then read-on!
It’s easy to imagine that a paintball marker works much like any air gun, but that’s not quite the truth. There are a wide variety of types, brands, and most important, technologies involved in paintball today that continues to propel the sport into an ever growing, exhilarating experience.
Knowledge is power, and by providing yourself with a little paintball expertise, your first acquisition will be one that may provide contentment for a really long time.
Here are a few basic things about the sport you should know:
Paintball “markers” or guns have three “classes,” one of which contains two sub-classes.
The first and most common class of marker is the semi-automatic or the Pneumatic. As the name indicates, this marker will discharge a paintball every time the trigger is pulled.
There are two distinct sub-types of semi-automatics:
Sub-type 1 markers are also called “mechanical” markers, they work very much like a real firearm. However, unlike the typical firearm, their power source may be a CO2 (carbon dioxide) compressed air tank that usually screws into the back portion of the marker. You load the marker one time, and from that point forward it will fire each time you pull the trigger until you ‘spend’ all of the ammunition. This type marker can shoot rather fast: 4 to 9 balls per second (BPS).
In the alternative, Paintball Markers may use high-pressure air for propellant. When HPA (high-pressure air) is compressed, it remains a gas. When it expands, it also cools the tank at a far lower rate than liquid CO2 because it does not have to change from liquid to gas. The lack of this transition reduces the variation in pressure associated with rapid successions of firing cycles; resulting in accuracy improvement.
Semi-automatic markers of the 2nd sub-type are sometimes called “elector-pneumatic”; they derive from technology borrowed from the military and are equipped with an on-board computer to insure operation. This type marker was once considered the gold standard and very expensive, but electronic markers are just as affordable now as (and sometimes even cheaper) than mechanical models. The rate of fire is much faster with these markers and can reach as many as 36 BPS!
Although Semi-automatic / elector-pneumatic markers are just as reliable as mechanical ones, they do require a battery; and in some models the batteries are even rechargeable.
In any event, keep in mind that the battery must be fully charged or at least very near a full charge because this type marker will malfunction when the batteries are weak.
The one big difference between mechanical and elector-pneumatic markers lies with the flexibility of use. Mechanical markers can get wet and even be submerged in water whereas elector-pneumatic markers will short out when submitted to the same conditions. Light rain, however is not a handicap for elector-pneumatic markers.
The second class of paintball markers is called “pump action”. These markers work very much like a pump action shotgun and must be cocked each time before you can shoot a paintball. This is great for those of us on a budget or wishing to conserve since with this type marker you can expect a lot fewer paintballs to be used. Yet another plus, they are very accurate.
You might think that a pump would be less expensive than a semi-automatic, but this is not always the case. Paintball enthusiasts who use pump action markers are considered purists / conservatives by the industry and, as a result, the industry typically markets higher-end equipment to such folk, which often results in higher prices.
The third class of marker is called “stock” class which is a derivative of the original paintball gun.
We’ll make note here that the sport of paintball was actually born from the forestry industry which used “marking guns” (thus the term “marker”) which fired oil-based paintballs to mark trees instead of using spray paint or flagging tape.
Most of us are always looking for a way to stretch the dollar and searching for paintball markers are not exceptions; in fact, for those who really want to save, it’s strongly recommend to have a “look-see” at the refurbished markers that are offered by several manufactures . . . Here’s a great place to start looking: Click Here for first rate pre-owned Paintball guns.
One last thing, when you choose your Paintball Marker, be sure to select the appropriate sized ammunition. Paintballs come in several sizes, though .68 caliber is the most common and is considered by most Paintball Enthusiasts to be the standard size for paintballs. The “caliber” of a paintball refers to its diameter. For example, a .68 caliber paintball is 0.68” in diameter.
Over the years, paintballs have come in other, specialized calibers such as .40, .43, .50, and .62. Of these four, .50 caliber paintballs are a popular option particularly for “low-impact” games.
Bottom line, the size of paintballs you use is going to depend on your paintball gun or Marker.
When making your selection, keep in mind that as a general rule, higher priced paintballs are subjected to a more rigorous manufacturing processes, quality checks, and standards which makes their size and shape more consistent. This is very important in relation to accuracy. Plus, better paintballs tend to have thinner shells to improve the frequency of breaking on impact rather than bouncing off the intended target.
At this point you’re either over-whelmed or over educated. Here’s to hoping it’s more of the latter. Paintball is a fun game / sport that can be enjoyed by persons of all skill levels, even those of us with no skills at all.
On the other hand, may-be you’re thinking there are too few places to play so as to feel the euphoria and excitement most enthusiasts experience while participating in a real live Paintball Battle. As a Kentucky native and current resident, it was quite a surprise to learn that their are 21 Paintball “Fields of Play” listed on this web-site in Kentucky alone (Chick Here) . . . Most of which provide plenty of Paintball Gear on a “rent to play” basis; hence you can easily determine you level of interest without committing to a significant investment . . . To learn about Paintball “Fields of Play” locations on a state by state basis just Click Here.
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to participate, and if you become obsessed by the sport, which is a good possibility, there are lots of stores out there with products ready to deliver all of your requirements; including this site: Click Here to have a look-see! . .
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