The paintball marker is the basic equipment used in the game. This is a gun- like device that is used to mark the opponents. Instead of using bullets for ammunition, a marker uses paint that is enforced or pushed by a speedy expanding gas through a barrel. The standard maximum velocity of paintball markers should not exceed 300 feet per second so as to avoid bruises and serious injuries among whoever is hit. As a protection from incurring serious injuries from paintball markers, players should use eye and face protection when actively in the paintball field.

Most paintball markers are semi- automatic. The following are the four major design structures:

1.the gas blowback design that may either be inline or stacked. This marker has a trigger that releases a striker sending the bolt and knocks forward into a valve. The gas released fires the paintball and recock the marker.
2.Autococking markers has more complex gas system since it automatically functions the pump- action even without the pump arm.
3.The blow- forward design which contains no striker, instead the bolt seals the air chamber until the sear is released. This action moves forward making the gas air fully forced against the bolt that pushes the ball.
4.The electropneumatic is the most complicated and advanced semi- automatic paintball marker. This marker has a trigger that trips an electro microswitch. The information is processed in a computer- manipulated solenoid thereby releasing the propellant to move the bolt forward and fire the paintball. The marker operates very quickly because of the microcontroller. Since the electropnuematic marker is so advanced and of high technology, it is expensive. Thus, electropneumatic markers are used in high- speed paintball tournaments where firing rate is 30 balls per second or more.
Aside from semi- automatic paintball markers, some players also use the “pump” type. These are markers that are purposely designed to have slower rate of fire. The “pump type” markers are used by making a player slide a pump back and forth as he loads each shot before firing. Stock class guns are pump- action markers powered by a 12- gram carbon dioxide cartridges. Furthermore, stock class paintball markers have 10 to 20 round ammo tube fixed to the marker. Because of this limited number of ammo tube fixed onto the stock class marker, the player who uses it needs to roc the marker so the paintball will drop into a chamber. After this “rock motion,” the marker is now ready to be “recocked.”

The side arm or the pistol uses carbon dioxide cartridge. The sidearm is either pump or semi- automatic but attached with it is an 8-12 round magazine.

The mil- sim, which is the contraction of military simulation, looks like real guns. Since the mil- sim looks like real guns, they are usually used in woodsball games. Aside from looking like a real gun, the mil- sim is painted camo or black to blend with foliage or shadow.

This entry was posted on Sunday, October 26th, 2008 at 8:56 pm and is filed under Equipments. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.