Drop Forwards

Drop Forwards drop the tank a few inches and forward it. The drop forward makes the marker taller in height but shorter in length. Drop forwards may also contain an on and off switch feature for safety and easiness of operation.

Rail

If the drop forward is not featured, the rail system may be used. This permits the ASA or the tank regulator to be mounted at the grip base. The rail is usually preferred to be used by most players than the drop forward.

Remote Line

The cable or tribe attached from the marker to the tank is the remote line. The remote line allows more easiness of movement while manipulating the marker. However, remote line is seldom used by players in tournaments.

Pod

The complex tubular plastic containers that hold paintballs are the pods. Usual size of the pod can hold 140 paintballs while other paintball pods can hold 100 paintballs and others that can be rented can hold only 10 paintballs are called tubes. Commonly used pods are made of plastic top and a spring to open them easily. Some pods like those manufactured by Dye Lock Lid use simple locking mechanism so that they won’t unintentionally be opened and pods manufactured by Syn Shockpods are designed to be opened through vigorous shaking but the paint inside will not surely be broken.

Harness

The pods holding the paintballs are packed in the harnesses. 200 paintballs can be stored in most hoppers. Since in woodsball tournaments, the players will be staying in the field in an extended period of time; the harness gives the convenience to the players a portable supply of paint. Most harnesses have pouch of this kind are usually labeled with a+1. Speedball harnesses or Tourney ball consists of bellyband with hoops at the back to hold the pods. Woodsball harnesses have military look because they have pockets for maps, radios, and hydration pouches.

Squeegee

To clean out debris from the barrel and breach is the purpose of the squeegee. Usually squeegees are of hinge- mounted rubber disc at the end of a plastic rod that has enough length to reach the whole segment of the barrel. Rubber washer end is put into the barrel to one side. It is pushed to the base and pulled out with the rubber disc turned ninety degrees.

If the player is using an open breech or removable marker, a cable squeegee may be used. Cable squeegee is a rubber disc that is mounted vertically at the end of the cable. The “pull end” or the non- rubber- disc end is put into the breech or through the back when bolt has already been removed. It is pushed fully in such that the pull end is extended out in the front of the barrel. Squeegee is tugged out by dragging on the pull end.

In speedball, the battle swab is used. It is a double ended stick that has soft fur soaking up the paint. This soft fur is shoved down the whole length of the barrel to clean any tarnishing paint or shell. Swabs are usually containing pliable rubber section that can be seen in the middle so that it can be carried anywhere through folding and storing it in the pocket.

Barrel Covers/ Condoms/ Socks

Made of cloth or neoprene pouch that is placed over the aperture of the barrel and fastened to the marker with the use of a cord is the safety device the “barrel cover.” Barrel covers/ condoms/ socks are used when the player is not actively playing on the field to prevent the marker from unintentionally firing a paintball. When a player forgets to replace the barrel cover/ sock/ condom after a game and when he is in a safe zone, he will likely be reprimanded and be given a warning. When this violation is repeated, the player is then evicted from the field. Barrel socks are originally termed as barrel condoms, but for the sake of younger players, it is now called the barrel socks. Barrel socks are more preferred than barrel plugs because plugs are still possible to fall out.

OTHER EQUIPMENT

Paint Grenades

In recreational and scenario play are paint grenades usually used, though in tournaments they are not legally used. Pain grenades do not explode, they are like water balloons. Common design of paint grenades is that it consists a rubber tube filled with paint and folded in half. When the grenade makes an impact, the lid comes off and allows the pressure placed on the paint by the tube to spray the paint over an area and mark the player.

Paint Mines

No paint mines use any kind of explosive.

Slingshots

Instead of markers to thrust the paintball, slingshots are also of popular use. Slingshots have faster velocity, even faster than 300 fps that is why most paintball fields discourage the use of slingshots.

This entry was posted on Monday, May 21st, 2007 at 7:24 pm and is filed under Equipments. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.