When Was Paintball Invented? Celebrating the Origin of This Fun Hobby
Paintball is an intense and competitive sport that offers a wide variety of playing fields. It consists of fast-paced strategies and tactics that can temporarily turn your closest friends into your focused enemy. But when was paintball invented?
It has become a popular game played on outdoor and indoor fields around the world. The sport reflects the unbelievable adrenaline rush that accompanies the hunt of each game.
So how did it all come to be?
When Was Paintball Invented?
The concept of the paintball marker was invented back during the mid-60s by a man named Charles Nelson. However, the sport of paintball is still relatively young, with the first paintball game played in May of 1981.
So now you know: When was paintball invented? But what happened between those years that transformed paintball into the popular game we love today?
To answer this, we have to dive deeper into some exciting paintball history.
History of the marker
When asking when was paintball invented, we must take a look back to the mid-60s.
During this time, Charles Nelson of the Nelson Paint Company was asked to create a device to assist foresters.
What he invented was the paintball marker.
The notion was to shoot a projectile of paint from the marker to mark trees or livestock. The device would save foresters and ranchers time by giving them the ability to mark from a distance.
Nelson approached the Crosman company to produce a marker gun that would shoot the paintballs. So the company developed the Crosman 707. However, after a few years of poor sales, Crosman halted production as a financial loss.
If only they knew how mistaken they were.
The Nel-Spot 007
Years later, Nelson decided that he might have more success if he sold his paintball marker as a toy. With BB guns so popular, he contacted an airsoft company, known as Daisy, to construct the first paintball marker.
In 1972, the Daisy Manufacturing Company patented and manufactured the "Splotchmarker," which Nelson marketed as the famous Nel-Spot 007. This marker became a milestone in paintball history for use in the first ever game of the sport.
The Nel-Spot 007 was a bolt action or pump action marker in the shape of a pistol. Its robust design, reliability, and simplicity still place it in the gear bags of many players today.
The First Game of Paintball
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The first paintball game occurred on June 7, 1981, in the New Hampshire woods. However, the game didn't happen overnight. In fact, the discussion took place for the first time in 1977, between two friends, over drinks.
Years later, after seeing the Nel-Spot 007 in a catalog, the two friends set out to settle an ongoing argument — could a novice survive in combat against a trained hunter?
When looking into history to see when was paintball invented, you'll see it was nothing but a simple concept.
Testing their theory, Hayes Noel and Charles Gaines invited 12 friends to compete in a game of capture the flag. There were 4 flag stations, each with 12 flags matching each of the 12 people playing. The rules were simple: The first to capture all the flags without getting shot wins.
Half of the players comprised experienced avid hunters and the other half consisted of untrained city men.
Game-day took place on June 27, 1981. They armed 12 players with the Nel-Spot 007 paintball markers and set out into an 80-acre cross-country playing field.
Incidentally, the winner, Ritchie White, didn’t fire a single shot. Instead, he used strategic stealth tactics to collect all the flags, outsmarting his friends to win.
As the first 12 players stalked each other for eliminations and flags, they were not aware of the impact this simple experiment would have on extreme sports in the years to come.
Rise of the paintball industry
Shortly after the first game, one of the participants, Bob Jones, decided to write an article about the experience for Sports Illustrated Magazine. This instantly made the game of paintball famous and brought the sport to a whole new generation of players.
His article resulted in the unexpected flow of letters from people with requests asking how they could play the game.
The sudden popularity in the game proved to be a great business opportunity for the principal creators. Gurnsey, Gaines, and Noel started selling starter kits for what they called the National Survival Game (NSG).
The kit included a Nel-Spot marker, along with some paintballs and safety goggles. They also added an official rulebook for the game and a bonus compass as used by the first players.
Paintball as a Worldwide Sport
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Bob Gurnsey opened the world's first commercial paintball field in New Hampshire in March 1982. And as we learn more about when was paintball invented, this was only the beginning.
Gurnsey began licensing out the NSG franchise to others who wanted to start their own fields. The sport transitioned from NSG to the name of paintball and began to make its way overseas in 1994.
With all these new burgeoning industries, paintball was standardized and more streamlined for consumer play.
Speedball and the rise of the semi-automatic marker
While learning when was paintball invented, it's also good to know how it advanced over the years.
In 1988, a new variation to the game called "arena ball" made its debut at a paintball field in California. Also known as speedball, it was a revolutionary addition to the world of paintball and an instant success.
This type of game was extremely fast-paced and usually lasted only three to four minutes at a time. The game required higher speed, and because of this, the 1990s soon saw a rise in demand for semi-automatic markers.
It was Tippman Pneumatics to release the first fully-automatic paintball gun: the Tippman SMG-60. Tippman remains among the most respected and well-distributed companies in the world today.
Accurate and fast to operate, these semi-automatic markers could generate very high rates of fire. However, semi-automatic electronic markers were heavy to carry. They were also considerably more expensive, making them not readily available to most players at the time.
Originally part of Kingman, Spyder Paintball made a name for itself by introducing a more affordable semi-automatic to the public. Known as the Kingman Spyder marker, an aluminum body made it much lighter than other semi-auto markers on the market.
Famous for their reliability, simple design, and ease of maintenance, these mechanical markers had high performance at a low cost. By doing this, Spyder significantly evened the playing field for those players on a tight budget.
Over time, the markers became more affordable and available on the market. Other brands started to manufacture them, and today there are several great speedball markers from which to choose.
The Paintball Patent Wars
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As the passion for paintball began the spread, it started to gain a more positive and safe reputation. More companies began to appear and take the opportunity in the sport, offering cheaper markers or specialized parts and gear.
While looking into the question of when was paintball invented, another milestone hit with the entry of electro-pneumatically operated markers.
Unlike pump markers, a circuit board controls power to electronic or electro-pneumatic markers with a 9-volt battery. The consistency is more accurate with a faster firing ratio due to the electric components.
In 2003, a company known as Smart Parts got a patent for paintball markers using an electro-pneumatic valve. Unfortunately, this also initiated a series of lawsuits regarding markers built during the pending patent period.
It also created a massive backlash against Smart Parts by many players of the game.
The event sent a shockwave through the industry, and several smaller manufacturers immediately ceased production of electronic markers.
Most high-end companies were less affected
However, for those companies that continued to make the electronic markers, the competition would only rise. Some of the remaining top-quality companies included Luxe Paintball, Planet Express, DYE, and many others.
Founded in 1994, DYE is one of the oldest companies in the sport. It manufactures a wide range of paintball equipment, as well as the popular Dye Rize line of markers. The goal of the company was to deliver reliable and dependable paintball guns and gear to all players.
A small England-originated company known as Planet Express became popular after creating what they called the Eblade board. This was a complete chip kit with the ability to convert any typical auto-cocker marker into an electronic one.
Today the company is now a leading manufacturer in electronic paintball markers such as the CS2 and the Etha 2.
DLX Technologies, also known as Luxe Paintball, amazed the world with its exclusive Luxe ICE, one of the best high-end paintball markers on the market. DLX designed its marker to be as customizable as possible and continuously updates to meet the demands of the players.
The Game of Paintball Today
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So now that we've answered your question of "When was paintball invented," let's go over the facts one last time before you head out into the field!
The very first game of paintball occurred in 1981.
When the game was first played, it was merely 12 friends trying to test who had the best survival skills only to become a world-known official sport in a matter of 2 years later.
Paintball has grown over the years, from outdoor and indoor fields to elaborate obstacles including custom scenarios and tactical gameplay. It has evolved into a highly competitive sport that comes in many different forms, ranging from small groups of friends to professional tournaments.
The game is now getting the attention it deserves and is a favorite recreational past-time for many people.
Did you enjoy learning about the history of this exciting, adrenaline-driven sport? Please let us know what you think in the comments below!
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How to Make a Paintball Gun: Assembling Your Choice Weapon
So, you’re trying to figure out how to make a paintball gun?
It’s quite simple if you know how it works and know where to look for parts. Since paintball guns work by forcing paintballs out a barrel with a burst of air pressure, it’s a quite simple mechanism.
Great paintball gun components exist in abundance, and they’re generally easy to put together because manufacturers make them that way. Also, working some DIY magic can go a long way.
So, how exactly do you make a paintball gun?
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How to Make a Paintball Gun
Since people can have different ideas of what “how to make a paintball gun” means, let’s begin with clearing this up. To some, it simply means building your ideal marker out of personally selected components.
Others may involuntarily begin to hum the McGyver theme song as they scramble for duct tape and gas canisters. Fortunately, we can give you the information on how to make a paintball gun in both these ways.
That leaves us with one unanswered question before we begin: How does a paintball gun work?
The Mechanics of Paintball Guns
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Paintball guns, also known as markers, consist of a handful of components. For example, there’s the barrel where the balls come out and the loader that feeds them into the barrel.
You may be wondering: What propels the paintballs out through the barrel?
In commercial paintball markers, canisters of compressed air or carbon dioxide cause a buildup of pressure when you pull the trigger. Once the pressure reaches a certain level, a valve opens and releases the force out the barrel, taking the paintball with it.
Markers achieve this in a few different ways. The original designs, known these days as stock-class markers, operate like simple pump or bolt-action guns.
Just like in the world of firearms, modern semi-automatic paintball guns vary in how they achieve the semi-auto result. Blowbacks and double-action designs are only two of the various designs.
Additionally, there are electronic (or electro-pneumatic) markers that use electric signals to trigger a simpler and faster firing mechanism without any big moving parts. These offer various firing modes, higher rates of fire, and other special features.
However, they cost significantly more, and they don’t work with CO2 tanks. Also, they don’t have the same near-universal compatibility found in most mechanical marker components. And there are greater risks of malfunction.
Still, electronic ones tend to be more gas-efficient, and they’re quieter. Since both have their strength and weaknesses, hybrid guns are also a viable option.
Due to these various differences, the general price range is vast. High-end markers cost a lot. Learning how to make a paintball gun means you can replace and modify components to achieve better results affordably.
How to Make a Paintball Gun from Common Items
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While proper paintball markers are rather elaborate machines, a simple paintball gun is a surprisingly simple build you can make at home. However, there’s always a risk when playing with high-pressure mechanisms, so proceed at your own risk.
So, we’ve established that a paintball gun works by propelling the balls with a pressure tank. With this understanding, we can look at how to make a paintball gun using cheap and common materials.
The shooty end
What all guns and gun-like objects have in common is a barrel where the projectile emerges. For a DIY paintball gun, you can either buy or reuse a proper paintball barrel, or you can improvise with cheap options.
PVC piping is a good candidate, as are other pipes. However, the internal diameter is a crucial factor. Paintballs are 0.68 caliber, which means they’re 0.68 inches or 1.72 centimeters across.
A good barrel will be ever-so-slightly wider so that the ball can shoot out but won’t roll on its own. If it’s too wide, the pressure will disperse around the ball. As a result, the shot will be weaker and less accurate.
Since cheap paintballs can be somewhat uneven in size and shape, too wide is better than too narrow. Otherwise, paintballs may jam the barrel or burst inside it.
To test a barrel’s width, drop a paintball into it. If it rolls out, there’s too much space. You should be able to blow it out of the pipe easily, though. Otherwise, it’s too tight.
You can also get some thicker pipe to use as a handle. Also, you can fashion such piping into stocks and various accessories.
What’s a pressure chamber?
The main part of a homemade paintball gun is its pressure chamber. You can make one out of a plastic water bottle, or any similar item made out of plastic or metal. What matters is that it’s airtight. Otherwise, pressure won’t increase.
Accumulating this pressure and controlling its release is the main challenge of how to make a paintball gun from scratch. Let’s look at two simple methods.
The first one’s safe and easy and doesn’t require any external fuel. Think bottle rocket.
For this, you’ll need a pump like the ones used for bike tires or soccer balls. You can either add a proper nozzle to your McGyver paintball gun or attach the pump itself.
Now, you’ll also need a PVC valve between the barrel and pressure chamber. Otherwise, the pressure would dissipate before reaching the required levels. Keep in mind that pumping too much air into the chamber can make it explode.
Since pumping up the gun takes time and releasing the valve isn’t as elegant as pulling a trigger, let’s look at a more powerful build. If you’re familiar with potato cannons, you’ll recognize this concept.
Although this design does involve internal combustion of gas, it’s safe if you do it right. The basic idea is that you spray aerosol into the tank, seal it, and then give it a spark.
Since the pressure burst is almost instantaneous, you won’t need a proper valve. Instead, you can make the start of the barrel narrower so that the ball itself seals it.
What you will need is a BBQ lighter. Ones with bendy barrels are the most practical.
Putting it all together
An important question related to how to make a paintball gun is what tools you’ll need. Thankfully, you won’t need much.
A drill with bits of different diameters is useful but not essential. A knife is a must, but the exact kind isn’t important as long as it’s sharp and reliable. To hold things together, hot glue and strong tape are ideal.
Let’s begin with the pressure tank. First, you need to make a hole in the cap for the barrel or valve. Next, insert the barrel system and fasten it with your glue or tape.
You’ll also need a hole for your pressure source. For the hand-pumped design, you can place the hole wherever the pump will allow for comfortable use.
For the lighter-based solution, you’ll want the hole in a spot where the lighter’s body and button can serve as a comfortable trigger. This video will help you with how to make a paintball gun.
Now, this is a rudimentary design that’s not suitable for actual paintball games. Of course, you can add more features like a hopper and paintball detents to improve the rate of fire and general functionality.
Remember to wear suitable protective gear. And never point your paintball gun at anyone who isn’t wearing it.
How to Make a Paintball Gun with Proper Components
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If you want to learn how to make a paintball gun with that does all the things you need for intense games, it’s best to go with proper gear. First of all, it’s much safer, and you’ll get better results.
If you want full functionality, you need all the features. And they must be up to par, although you can sometimes incorporate some affordable alternative solutions with the right know-how
What parts do I need?
The main problem with the primitive paintball gun we described earlier is that it’s slow to load, and the paintballs can roll out of the barrel. Let’s look at all the features that make paintball markers work how you expect.
The main component is the body. This is the central, gun-like structure that holds the trigger. Since everything else connects to the body, it determines which parts are compatible. So, choose carefully.
Then, there’s the barrel, which can greatly affect your accuracy. Also, you’ll need detents. These simple structures prevent the balls from rolling out the pipe when you’re not firing.
Next up is the hopper or loader. This is the equivalent of a gun’s magazine, and it feeds paintballs into the barrel.
You’ll need gas or air tanks too. If you’re serious about paintball, a remote kit is worth looking into. These let you carry gas tanks on your body, making the marker lighter and more mobile.
For good accuracy, you’ll also want a regulator. This component helps to ensure that each shot has the same force. Make sure its pressure rating matches that of your marker.
Sights are very helpful when you take aim. However, scopes are a redundant gimmick. No legal paintball marker shoots straight or far enough to benefit from a scope.
How to choose a paintball marker body
Since this is the core of your marker, this decisions is the most crucial step of how to make a paintball gun. While there are too many varieties to delve into, they all fall under a few basic categories.
First of all, there are mechanical and electronic designs. Electronic ones generally have higher rates of fire.
Also, you have a choice between semi-automatic fire or bolt/pump action. There’s a variety of mechanisms, so you’ll want to do your research before deciding.
While stock options are the most convenient, you can also assemble your ideal marker with slight modifications. Trigger frames, bolts, and valves are examples of pieces you may want to customize.
How to choose a barrel
The length of your barrel has an effect on your range and accuracy. So does its material. Plus, your own preferences regarding weight and general feel play a significant role.
Since paintballs do vary slightly, you’ll want to carefully match your barrel and paintballs of choice. It’s wise to ask around among enthusiasts first. Also, getting the right threading will affect your range and consistency.
The easiest way to get this right is to get a barrel kit. These make your marker more versatile and help future-proof it. You can simply match your barrel to the current need.
Air or CO2?
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the traditional fuel of mechanical paintball guns. It’s convenient because a small tank of liquid CO2 will expand into lots of gas and provide plenty of pressure.
However, this reaction has a cooling effect, which slows down the evaporation. That translates to pressure loss with rapid fire. This is fine with mechanical markers on warm days, but it may pose problems in other conditions.
Therefore, people started using compressed air. You may also know it as HPA or Nitro. Air doesn’t have pressure loss problems, so it’s more consistent. Moreover, some modern markers only accept air.
On the other hand, air tanks are bulkier and more expensive than CO2 tanks. However, they may be cheaper in the long run since you can often get unlimited refills.
Loading capacity
When choosing a hopper, it may be tempting to get the largest one available. Keep in mind that this will make your marker heavier and may affect your aim. Find a good balance of weight and ball count.
Hopper types can affect performance significantly. For stock-class markers, you need a stick-fed loader. Other types allow for various modern designs.
Gravity-fed hoppers are a simple and cheap solution. They usually work well with mechanical markers, but less so with electronic ones. Sometimes, paintballs jam in the tube. Also, they limit your rate of fire.
If you’re serious about paintball, you’ll want a force-feed or agitating hopper. These designs have mechanisms that provide a faster, more consistent feed.
You can get very high rates of fire with these. However, they require electricity or sometimes a gas feed. Since they all vary, you’ll want to read up on specific models.
Assembly
Although there are several parts, assembling a paintball gun is quick and easy. As long as you get compatible parts, that is.
The barrel screws into the front of the body with the hopper just above it. Next, your gas tank or tube plugs into a socket that’s usually on the bottom of the stock.
Closing Thoughts
Now you know how to make a paintball gun both with high-end components and from scrap materials. Your dream paintball marker build is within reach.
Please be safe and use this knowledge responsibly. And enjoy your new paintball gun.
Have you ever made a paintball gun? Let us know in the comment section below!
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How A Paintball Gun Works: Our Complete Guide
There's a lot to love about paintball -- it's an enjoyable, action-packed game, not to mention great exercise. Getting to fire a paintball gun is a lot of fun as well. But have you ever wondered how a paintball gun works?
Paintball guns don't work the same way real guns do. Of course, considering that you're probably shooting paintball guns at your friends, this is a good thing. It's also a different mechanism that's quite fun to learn about.
Nothing's better than that great, tired feeling you have after a long, fun day of playing paintball. It might be even better, though, if you get to shoot that gun knowing how a paintball gun works.
The Parts of a Paintball Gun
If you've ever looked for a paintball gun, you know that they have all sorts of different features. They can vary widely when it comes to design. However, there are four basic parts that are universal to all paintball guns. These include the body, compressed air tank, barrel, and hopper.
Body
Most of the functions, as well as aesthetic features, are located in the body of the paintball gun. These include the main parts that are involved in the actual firing mechanism, which would be the trigger, valve, and bolt.
The majority of paintball gun bodies are made of aluminum. Manufacturers do this in order to make paintball guns lightweight for the players.
There are many useful features in the body of the gun. One is the safety switch, which is very important because you use it to prevent the gun from firing when you're not playing. There is also the trigger, which initiates the firing sequence of the paintball.
The body also contains the cocking knob, which is what pulls back to cock the gun for a new round. There is also the Venturi bolt, which fires the paintball from the barrel.
The firing chamber is where paintballs go from the hopper when they are ready to blast out of the gun.
Compressed air tank
As the name implies, the compressed air tank is the tank that holds whatever gas you're using to fire the paintballs. It's typically either carbon dioxide or high-pressure air, which is commonly known in the paintball world as HPA.
It's very important to inspect the tank for any defects before you screw it into the air source adapter. If there are any leaks, it could completely compromise the performance of your paintball gun.
People used to more commonly use carbon dioxide than HPA for paintball guns. However, that is no longer the case.
HPA has a major advantage over carbon dioxide in that it is much less sensitive to temperature. Because temperature and pressure are related when it comes to any gas, carbon dioxide's sensitivity to temperature makes for all sorts of possible fluctuations in pressure.
That makes it so that the pressure that propels the paintball out is inconsistent, leading to inconsistent accuracy when you're firing the gun.
Tanks can vary in size. However, the most popular size is 67 cubic inches. On average, you can make between 800 and 1,000 shots with this tank before you need to replace it.
Barrel
The barrel is the part of the gun that directs where the paintball goes and controls the release of the pocket of air behind it. It's really important that you keep your barrel clean. If you aren't meticulous about keeping it clean, it could destroy the accuracy and reliability of your gun when you're firing it.
When you're looking at different barrels, bore size is one parameter that you should consider. It's the diameter of the barrel. Barrels come with several different bore sizes, which fit all sorts of different sized paintballs.
One important thing to keep in mind is that your barrel threading needs to match the threading of your marker. The most popular barrel threads are the following: Angel, Autococker, Spyder, Shocker, and Impulse/Ion, 98 Custom, and A-5.
Typically, though you won't have to worry about this, because when you buy a paintball gun, it's going to come with a barrel.
When you're a little more advanced in the game of paintball, you might want to upgrade your barrel. If you do this, you should consider both the length and the bore size.
When it comes to length, shorter barrels are more gas efficient because they don't require as much air for each shot. However, longer barrels are typically quieter, because the gas has more time to exit the barrel.
Most barrels are between 3 and 21 inches in length, with the optimal length being somewhere in between, depending on your preference.
You should also make sure that your gun has a well-made bore. The diameter of the bore needs to be the exact diameter of the paintballs you are going to be using. Otherwise, you'll have to deal with velocity disruptions and trouble with accuracy.
Hopper
A lot of paintball players don't think about hoppers that much, but they're a very important part of how a paintball gun works. The hopper is where you load and reload paintballs into the gun. If you can't get them into the gun, you won't be able to play.
There are different types of hoppers, and the type that you should choose for your gun largely depends on the rest of your gun. Different types of hoppers are ideal for mechanical and electronic guns, for example.
How a Paintball Gun Works
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Of course, every paintball gun is slightly different. However, when it comes to how a paintball gun works, the basic process is universal to all paintball guns.
Every time you pull the trigger on your paintball gun, it causes the release of a burst of gas. This leads to the movement of a controlled valve that sends your paintball on its journey. In a nutshell, that's how a paintball gun works.
If you want to know how a paintball gun works, it's important to know that not every paintball gun is created the same. There are several different designs, and two main types: mechanical and electronic.
How a paintball gun works is fairly universal in some ways, but there are some fairly significant differences. That's particularly true when we're talking about mechanical vs. electronic paintball guns.
Mechanical
The majority of mechanical paintball guns are considered to be blowbacks. On these guns, when you pull the trigger, you end up releasing a bolt that is propelled forward by a spring.
The bolt pushes the paintball into the barrel, and then it strikes a pin once the paintball is in there. The pin opens the valve and allows the air to go into the barrel. Then, the force of the expanding air causes the bolt to go back to its original position, hence the name "blowback."
Electronic
In contrast to mechanical guns, electronic guns fire paintballs using battery-powered circuit boards. These activate solenoids that lead to the firing of the gun.
When you pull the trigger, the circuit board receives a signal to fire. You can program a circuit board, which makes it easy to set the gun up to fire automatically or fire in a variety of patterns.
In order to assure consistent firing, electronic guns rely on regulators. Regulators are mechanical devices that release air into the barrel at a constant pressure, despite possible variable air pressures within the tank.
The Shooting Process: The Journey of the Paintball
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A big part of understanding how a paintball gun works is understanding the trajectory that the paintball travels. It's actually a fascinating process.
1. Pulling the trigger
This is pretty self-explanatory. You pull the trigger, and it sets the entire process into motion.
2. Air expands
Since the air in the tank of your paintball is in compressed form, it has to expand in order to do its job with the paintball. When you pull the trigger, you allow for the release of compressed air into the expansion chamber.
3. A burst of air
Now, a burst of the air from the expansion chamber travels into the upper body of the gun. That's where the firing pin and all the paintballs are located. That's where the air actually does its work.
4. The firing pin comes forward
The rapid burst of air from the expansion chamber now pushes the firing pin forward. The firing pin is what comes into contact with the paintball, so this is a pretty pivotal step in terms of getting the paintball out of the gun.
5. Fire!
Now, the firing pin will launch the ball through the barrel. That's where the paintball comes out.
Even though the burst of air ultimately powers the motion, it's the firing pin that propels the paintball forward. The air indirectly provides the paintball with its forward momentum.
6. Setting up for the next round
Of course, the whole apparatus needs to be in place for you to shoot the next paintball. That means part of the burst of air which powered the trajectory of this paintball is used to prepare for the next one.
This portion of the air essentially re-cocks the firing pin. Now, the paintball gun is ready to shoot another paintball.
Enhancing Your Paintball Gun's Performance
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Of course, learning about how a paintball gun works is interesting. However, you're probably not learning about it just to brush up on random scientific knowledge. You want to know how a paintball gun works so that you can utilize this knowledge to improve your game.
Since you want to have the best possible chance of winning, there are certain things you should know about how to maintain your paintball gun and the paintballs themselves.
Keeping it clean
It's hard to keep your paintball gun clean at all times. After all, when you're playing, it's inevitably going to get muddy and dirty. However, it's important that you clean it after every game, as a dirty paintball gun can really ruin your accuracy.
One thing you should do is run a squeegee through the barrel (and make sure the squeegee itself is clean). You should also clean the entire body, including the raceway inside your motor, detents, bolt and hammer, and eyes.
In addition, make sure you keep the hopper clean -- many don't think to do this, but the contents of the hopper are going into the barrel. So, you don't want to meticulously clean your barrel only to have it dirty because of the dirty hopper.
Choosing your paintballs wisely
Make sure to buy the right size paintballs for your bore size. If they're too small, they'll bounce around and not have a smooth trajectory as they leave the barrel. If they're too big, there will be too much friction as the ball goes out, causing them to lose velocity or worse, break in the barrel.
For verification that your paintballs are the right size, there's a fairly straightforward test. Disconnect the barrel from the gun and drop a paintball through it.
If it falls straight through, it's too small. In the event that it gets stuck in the bore, blow through the barrel with a small burst of air. If it's still stuck, the paintballs are too big. But, if it goes through, they're likely the ideal size.
Also, before you load your hopper, make sure you inspect your paintballs. Many players don't do this, but even minor imperfections on paintballs can affect their trajectory. Also, if one happens to break inside your gun, it can ruin your entire game.
Ready, Set, Fire!
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You're always excited to play paintball, but probably now more than ever. Now that you understand how a paintball gun works, it's probably going to be even more fun to fire it at your friends.
Whether you have a mechanical or electronic paintball gun, the fact that it's air driving the entire shooting process makes your gun all the more impressive.
Science is probably the last thing on your mind when you're playing paintball, but the truth is that there's a lot of physics and chemistry going into how a paintball gun works. You don't have to understand all of it, but you have to admit it is pretty cool. Especially since it can help you win your next paintball game!
What do you have to say about everything we've just told you about how a paintball gun works? Let us know in the comments section.
5 Coolest Paintball Courses in the World
Originally developed for recreation, paintball has evolved into a formal sports competition, which involves tournaments and teams comprised of professional players.
Military forces and law enforcement use paintball as part of their training. Participants can play indoor or outdoor fields of varying sizes. Some of the games include elimination, capture the flag, defending/attacking a particular area, or capturing objects hidden in the playing area.
One of the best things about paintball is that you can be of any age or level to play. All you need is a team, gear, and a field.
Playing on an interesting terrain makes paintball even more fun. Some of the most interesting paintball courses are in forests, dusty terrains, and artificial war areas. Challenging obstacles and an interesting atmosphere are some of the components that make a paintball course interesting.
We wanted to find out which terrains were the most interesting, so we scoured the globe for the coolest paintball courses.
Skirmish
When you enter Skirmish’s website home page, you get sucked into the world of paintball. The home page provides a bird’s eye view and a first-person point of view of the course.
Located in Albrightsville, USA, Skirmish is home to more than 50 paintball maps in the world. The entire course spans over 750 acres of the Pocono Mountain real estate. (1)
image via Skirmish
Paintballers who want a variety of courses will find Skirmish to be a delight, as it offers dense woods, open fields, swamps, bridges, creeks, two castles, cargo containers, airplanes, and inflatable bunkers. Talk about a variety.
Players don’t have to have paintball experience, and the staff offer tips and answer questions. Skirmish provides paintball equipment.
They provide numerous packages, depending on your needs and organize events that allow specials for students and benefits for other groups.
The company is based around the world in countries such as the UK, Ireland, Australia, and America. Skirmish USA hosts one of the most popular scenario games called the Invasion of Normandy.
The event attracts almost 4,000 attendees every July. (2)
Gotchaspielfeld Nord
Situated in Poland, Gotchaspielfeld Nord is Europe’s biggest paintball field. The facility, which opened in 2008 after a year of preparation, is located an hour and a half from Berlin and at the German border in Forst.
Aside from the usual amenities, the park offers a sleeping facility with 150 beds, a restaurant with a beer garden, an open-air cinema, and a disco.
image via Scenario-Paintball
Those who are more interested in the paintball aspect of the park have the option of choosing from 20 fields spread over 81 acres. One of the most popular scenarios at Gotchaspielfeld Nord is the Big Game. More than 1,000 players from German and the rest of Europe gather to compete in the legendary event.
The other park’s offerings include a tour of the Secret Bunker Forest and a tank ride on one of the three original armored vehicles. (6)
Some of the themed fields that the park offers are the Black Hawk Down, Rocket SILO, Green Zone, Slim City and House of Paint.
One of the benefits of making a full-day booking is free lunch at the park’s restaurant, Kantina.
Hollywood Sports Paintball & Airsoft Park
It seems that everything in Hollywood is about glitz and glamor. That seems to be the case even for their paintball courses.
One of the most interesting paintball courses is the Hollywood Sports course, based in Bellflower, USA.
Only Hollywood’s arts and culture can transport you to a battlefield, and the infamous park doesn’t fail to do that. This place has it all.
The venue is a million-dollar outdoor facility and spread over 28 acres. Situated to Los Angeles County in the city of Bellflower, Hollywood Sports Paintball offers various themed courses to create a memorable experience. (3)
image via Hollywood Sports
Some of the courses available are the giant tactical stadium, forbidden city, lunar wars, mad max, apocalypse, escape LA, combat center, and raccoon city. The park also offers a BMX course, volley court and two-story buildings. If that wasn’t enough, the park also has a MOUT training course, movie sets from Saving Private Ryan and Godzilla. (2)
The park also has a banquet center for bachelor or bachelorette parties, film showings, weddings, and family gatherings.
Many people regard the park as the most themed paintball park in the world.
Hot Shots Paintball Adventure Park
If you’re in Melbourne, Australia and want to experience one of the best paintball courses in the world, then the Hot Shots is the place to be.
It was voted as the fourth best paintball course in the world and Australia’s number 1 Most Awesome Paintball Skirmish Adventure Park. The only downside of the park is that it allows players of 16 years or older to play paintball. The park offers a mini-course for players ten years or older, as well as laser games.
image via Hot Shots Paintball
Players will never run out of entertainment at Hot Shots since it offers 11 fields that combine a natural bush setting with fascinating themes such as Wild West town, Egyptian Village, Battleforce Pacific and more. (4)
To make the park more entertaining, the organizers also have special effects, explosions, and sound effects. The park spans over 50 acres and has free BBQ facilities and also offers conference venues for corporate events, bachelor parties, and social gatherings.
The park compares its offerings to Hollywood style designed explosions and special effects. Other courses provided include the Mission Impossible, The Gauntlet, and Assasin.
Asylum Paintball
This place is one of the most exciting paintball courses not only in the world but also in New Zealand. Situated in Auckland, Asylum Paintball offers a unique experience.
Instead of designing an artificial course, the owners decided to convert a former Kingseat psychiatric hospital, which was in operation from 1932-1999, into a paintball course. The designers didn’t disappoint. (2)
image via Asylum Paintball
Besides offering packages for just about all ages, Asylum Paintball also offers night games, as well as indoor and outdoor courses. Some of the indoor venues are splat arena, doom arena, and the outdoor arenas are the wrecking yard, tire mania, drums of war and urban assault.
What makes it is that the venue used to be an asylum, so the organizers used the venue’s history to theme the park.
The park also offers BBQ facilities, catering and party rooms, as well as lockers.
One of the most popular events that the park hosts it a realistic experience is the Asylum Night Terror. The event is a 10-hour Airsoft scavenger-battle through the haunted, former Mental Asylum. (5)
Last Stand
Paintball is a sport that people of all ages and backgrounds enjoy. One of the perks of paintball is that it allows you to bond with your friends or colleagues while getting a workout and learning military strategies.
The aspect that makes paintball really fun is the course. Playing on themed courses and having various options available is what makes the game more exciting. Our listings reveal that regardless of where you are in the world, you can experience state-of-the-art courses.
References
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How to Suit up for Paintball
One of the favorite past-times amongst many people is paintball. Some have taken it to the next level and made it a sport.
The popularity of paintball has spread across the world so much that some organizations have established several national and regional leagues.
What evolved from being a concept to use a marker for trees has evolved out of the woods and made a home on playing grounds.
The popularity of paintball has established an industry of more than 10 million participants and dubbed the second biggest Extreme Sport - skateboarding being the first. (1)
The three forms of paintball are woodsball, speedball, and scenario paintball. To ensure optimal fun and safety, the right gear is essential for paintballers to participate. Our list contains the essential items to play paintball.
Paintball Marker
Commonly referred to as a paintball gun, the marker propels the paintballs toward the target. One of the key features of a paintball marker is the compressed air tank. Some markers have a Co2 tank.
Without the compressed air or Co2 tank, the bolt will not cycle, making the marker useless.
High-quality markers can propel paintballs at 300 feet per second, though the paintball cannot retain that speed for a long period. (1)
Most marker manufacturers make the bodies from aluminum to reduce the gun’s weight and feature custom milling and color anodizing. The most common markers feature a body, compressed air tank, barrel, and hopper. (2)
The three types of markers that exist are pump, mechanically operated, and electro-pneumatic. (2)
Mask
Unless you want a paintball to splatter in your eyes, then you should wear a mask while playing.
Paintball masks protect your face. A paintball hitting your body might cause a bruise, but hitting your eyes can blind you. Numerous paintball masks exist on the market, but paintballers need to ensure that theirs contains a few essential features.
Although masks are meant to protect your face, it’s also supposed to provide you with good vision. Ensure that your mask comes with an anti-fog feature, as well as thermal design lenses.
Some masks cover only your face, and others cover your entire head. Being able to hear is essential while playing paintball, so make sure that you can hear properly since different models provide different hearing levels. One of the things that affect the player’s hearing is the extra padding near the ear on the mask to protect it from injury by the paintball. (3)
Most masks contain foam padding to increase the player’s comfort on their face and helps with protection from the paintball. Some masks allow you to replace the foam since it gets blighted and disfigures due to constant absorption of sweat.
Visors on a mask are an additional feature but help to keep the sun out of your eyes, as well as prevent rain from dripping into the vents of the mask.
Other features that paintballers should look at to optimize their experience are scratch resistance, sturdiness and fog resistance.
Clothing
Although a paintballer can play in a t-shirt and shorts, getting the proper attire to play is essential for several reasons.
The most recommended attire for paintball is to wear a camouflage jumpsuit. Since most paintball terrains are dusty and situated in forests, a paintballer will benefit the most from a suit that blends into the environment.
Apart from enabling the paintballer to disguise him or herself, high-quality overalls provide layers of protection. The overall contains padding that alleviates the impact when the paintballs hit the player.
A proper overall covers the entire body of the player but is also big enough for the player to wear their regular clothing as the first layer.
Besides protecting your body, a good overall is also easy to wash. Having a paintball splatter on your regular clothes might be difficult to clean with some fabrics, whereas a paintball overall is much easier to clean when stained.
Paintballs
After you’ve selected a proper marker, mask, and overalls, the crucial ingredient that remains is the paintballs. Players have a choice between various ammo, allowing the player to select the quality and size. Choosing the wrong ammo could lead to players losing the game.
Each marker is best suited with unique paintballs. Getting the optimal experience from the ammo means choosing the ones that are best suited to the type of game that you’re going to play.
A paintball’s gelatin shell should break upon impact, though ricochet may occur.
Most regular competitors will settle for standard ammo, but professionals will consider the cost, durability, caliber, quality, color, and efficiency.
High-quality paintballs cost more than regular ones. The standard caliber of a paintball is 0.63 while others are 0.43 and 0.71. (4) The durability of the paintball is important since the outer shell should be thick and tough to ensure that it doesn’t break on the impact of the bolt.
The type of game that you play will determine the color of the paintball. Playing woodsball amongst green trees would require bright neon shades of paint. The efficiency determines how far the paintball can go and its accuracy.
Some of the best paintballs are Valkan Infinity, Vasken, RPS Empire Marbalizer, May Vary, and JT GI Splatmaster. (4)
Additional Gear
One of the final components is the vest. Mostly, professionals make use of a vest. A paintball vest provides the player with additional padding and enables convenient storage of ammo and other items such as radios and maps.
Players who choose to wear vests should ensure that they can easily breathe with it on, that it has adjustable shoulders and side straps, a mesh hydration bladder pouch, and several pockets.
Without the essential gear mentioned above, paintball won’t be a fun experience and could result in injury. Rather be safe than sorry by ensuring that you have all the necessary gear. After all, paintball is supposed to be a fun experience, not a risky task.
The better you’re prepared, the more fun you’ll have.
References
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Gun Rack Plans: How to Build A Gun Rack
If you have got plenty of guns or rifles lying about the house, you may want to think about building a gun rack to store them. Luckily, putting a gun rack together using our gun rack plans isn’t too much hassle.
Planning How to Build your Rack
As you're going to be building this from scratch, it is a good idea in your gun rack plans to choose a space, as well as the firearms that you are considering placing on the rack before beginning.
Below are some of the gun racks you can choose from if you’re planning on putting one together.
- Standing Gun Racks - also known as deputy racks; these hold the guns up vertically. It means you’ll be placing the holds on the top, so the butts sit on the bottom of the rack.
- Vertical Racks are somewhat similar to standing racks. The guns are still held upwards, but they are attached to a framework that will keep them from the floor.
- Horizontal Racks are placed on the wall or in the back of a vehicle. They are the most common sort of standby a long shot and allow for a fantastic view of the holstered firearms while also allowing easy access.
- Round Racks are made to be portable. They're often utilized in campsites designated for hunting, and they will allow quick access to stored rifles.
Rifles are all sorts of shapes and sizes. Longer weapons are optimal for these types of racks. Beforehand, it’s important to measure the space you want to put it before going ahead.
Get the Tools and Materials You Need
CC 0 by Public Domain, Pixabay.
You do not need good technical knowledge to be able to build a gun rack using these gun rack plans (a simple one, that is).
If you're planning plenty of beautiful embellishments you'll also need a good wood router, but mostly you'll want:
- 1x Drill
- 1x Pocket Screw Jig
- Some Screws
- 1x Table/ 1x Circular Saw
- Strong Wood/scrap/new plywood
- 1x Power Sander
If in your guns rack plans you've decided to build using scrap wood, remember to make sure it is prepped first. Strip down any paint; sand any rough surfaces.
This will take a small amount of time, but you will have the ability to find far better timber for a lower cost or nothing at all if you pick scrap.
Sale
DEWALT 20V MAX Cordless Drill / Driver Kit, Compact, 1/2-Inch...
- Compact, lightweight design fits into tight areas
- High performance motor delivers 300 unit watts out (UWO) of power ability completing a wide range of applications
- High speed transmission delivers 2 speeds (0 450 & 1,500 rpm) for a range of fastening and drilling applications. Chuck...
Kreg Jig K4 Master System and Pocket-Hole Screw Kit in 5 Sizes
- DRILL GUIDE: Removable drill guide for use with bench top and portable bases; patented 3-hole drill guide allows you to...
- DUST: Dust collection shroud helps reduce wood chips
- RECESS: Large clamping recess allows for many different styles of clamps to secure the jig to the workbench
T.K.Excellent Phillips Flat Head Wood Screws Kit,150 Pieces
- Use for most woodworking jobs and materials of woods,need pre-drilled hole for hard wood to avoid split.
- Sturdy and corrosion resistant,Phillips design minimize bit slippage.
- Don't easily slip, provides good holding power in different woods and man-made materials.
Sale
WORX WORXSAW 4-1/2" Compact Circular Saw – WX429L
- Cut 2x4's in a single pass with an easily maneuverable compact saw that weighs 50% less than a traditional 7-1/4"...
- Thin blade makes for less tool strain, resulting in full size circular saw cutting speed and performance.Blade Size 4.5...
- Easy-set depth gauge lever and 0-45-degree bevel settings for quick adjustments. The WORXSAW is substantial enough to...
Midwest Products 5305 Plywood Sheet, 1, Beige
- The product is 1/8x12x12 Birch Plywood
- Easy and simple use kit
- The product is manufactured in United States
Sale
BLACK+DECKER Random Orbit Sander, 5-Inch (BDERO100)
- Random orbital action for high removal rate and a high quality finish
- Hook and loop system for fast and easy paper changes
- Dust sealed switch to keep all dust and debris out
Building the Frame for Your Guns
Include to your gun rack plans the framework as it will be the anchor for the whole rack. Use the table saw or circular saw to cut everything to size, ensuring it is all symmetrical.
For a vertical stand, a square frame is how you should proceed. Cut the timber to the proper dimensions, but ensure the sides of the rack are wider than the tops, which ought to be flat. Attach them all with pocket screws.
You will also have to make sure the frame at the bottom is wide enough, to comfortably cradle the butts of the rifles. Give it an additional inch or so over the largest butt for the best results.
For a horizontal rack, you simply construct the framework, then attach the hooks that will hold the weapons in the next step.
Making the Rests
When making a vertical rack, you’ll need to put a cross beam, complete with indentations cut in the wood to hold the rifles. This will let you place many different firearms across it.
If you aren't familiar with carpentry, the easiest way to start doing this is by using a bandsaw or a jigsaw.
CC 0 by Public Domain, Pixabay.
If you are creating a horizontal rack with additional hooks, then you probably want to cut down the hooks or ready any pre-made hooks you have bought.
Attach them from behind the framework with simple wooden screws. You can also use Drywall screws, since they will rest against the rear of the frame, as long as they are pushed straight and sit flush with the wall when you are hanging the rack.
Completing the Rack
Take your sander, irrespective of your design, and round off all the sharp corners to get a smoother appearance. Take your time, be exact, and you will wind up getting a much more excellent build.
Once you’ve finished sanding, you may stain or paint the rack. This is very helpful if you gathered a vast array of different colored recycled wood since it is going to have an excellent final finish.
Following that, you will have to hang the rack up if it's wall mounted. For this, you will want to place it on a stud then screw it in. Remember - rifles are heavy, and their weight mounts up quickly, so it's crucial that you find the right place to anchor them.
Different Types of Gun Rack Plans
In order to make sure everyone is satisfied with their gun racks, it’s important that you have a wide range to choose the winning design from. If you love the idea of getting creative and building something of your own, below are some exciting plans if you’re stuck for inspiration.
Woodworking Corner
This rack easily hangs on the wall for a handy storage for all of your guns. You can also manipulate the design and materials to store more than just your guns, but any knives or accessories, too. With combined shelving and a drawer, there are two storage destinations for your purchases to ensure that they’re safe and out of the way. With this gun rack, you also have the option of extending the build should you purchase more guns and require more storage space.
Bill Pounds’ Rifle Case
This design resembles a suitcase once it’s closed so that you can easily transport your goods around with you. Alternatively, it’s creative design to store your purchases without it obviously looking like a gun case. Once this gun storage is open, you can lay it on the floor and it’ll easily storage eight rifles. Made from plywood and leather strips, it’s a piece of art that isn’t too complex to make. Plus, these materials also maintain a reasonably light weight for transportation purposes.
Wayne of the Woods
If you’re looking for a gun rack far from a simple build, this is a great option for you. However, you only need a few tools to complete the look. The main emphasis with this gun rack is that it’s strong and sturdy, so we highly recommend avoiding pine, which can break over time. Instead, use a hard wood or composite, as these materials are much more reliable and robust. Remember to use a support brace if you intend on storing heavy or numerous guns at one time. When you’ve completed this creation, you’ll probably want to fill in the nail holes and sand before it’s finalized.
Home Defense
This gun rack easily mounts to the wall so that it’s out of your way. It’s simple to create and apply to your wall, making it an ideal solution if you’re not a craftsman. These take a little longer to position your gun once you’re finished with it, but the finalized look is more polished than some of the other gun rack plans. However, grabbing your gun only takes a second. We love the versatility that comes with this rack because you can mount it on a wall or over a door. You can also position the rack on an angle to make it look aesthetically pleasing and not just practical.
Our Gun Rack Plans get the Job Done
Hopefully, we've given you a basic primer that should be acceptable for you to build a great-looking rack. It is a handy way to collate your arms, and also makes for a great display! You can also check out what to wear paintballing to ensure that you’re always equipped - no matter if it’s a fun or serious game session.
Sale
DEWALT 20V MAX Cordless Drill / Driver Kit, Compact, 1/2-Inch...
- Compact, lightweight design fits into tight areas
- High performance motor delivers 300 unit watts out (UWO) of power ability completing a wide range of applications
- High speed transmission delivers 2 speeds (0 450 & 1,500 rpm) for a range of fastening and drilling applications. Chuck...
Kreg Jig K4 Master System and Pocket-Hole Screw Kit in 5 Sizes
- DRILL GUIDE: Removable drill guide for use with bench top and portable bases; patented 3-hole drill guide allows you to...
- DUST: Dust collection shroud helps reduce wood chips
- RECESS: Large clamping recess allows for many different styles of clamps to secure the jig to the workbench
T.K.Excellent Phillips Flat Head Wood Screws Kit,150 Pieces
- Use for most woodworking jobs and materials of woods,need pre-drilled hole for hard wood to avoid split.
- Sturdy and corrosion resistant,Phillips design minimize bit slippage.
- Don't easily slip, provides good holding power in different woods and man-made materials.
Sale
WORX WORXSAW 4-1/2" Compact Circular Saw – WX429L
- Cut 2x4's in a single pass with an easily maneuverable compact saw that weighs 50% less than a traditional 7-1/4"...
- Thin blade makes for less tool strain, resulting in full size circular saw cutting speed and performance.Blade Size 4.5...
- Easy-set depth gauge lever and 0-45-degree bevel settings for quick adjustments. The WORXSAW is substantial enough to...
Midwest Products 5305 Plywood Sheet, 1, Beige
- The product is 1/8x12x12 Birch Plywood
- Easy and simple use kit
- The product is manufactured in United States
Sale
BLACK+DECKER Random Orbit Sander, 5-Inch (BDERO100)
- Random orbital action for high removal rate and a high quality finish
- Hook and loop system for fast and easy paper changes
- Dust sealed switch to keep all dust and debris out
Finding The Best Paintball Gun Brand From Our List of 7
When shopping for paintball gear, it can be hard to find the best paintball gun brands on the market. There are plenty of great choices mixed up with cheaper alternatives that should be avoided. That’s why we’ve compiled this list of the best brands on the market today to purchase from.
By focusing your purchasing decisions on these brands, you’ll get the best possible experience. In each review, we will discuss the types of products they sell, why they are an excellent choice, and give you an idea of the typical cost of their products.
*The following brands were listed in no particular order.
The Best Brands Right Now
It’s important that you only purchase paintball guns, gear, and accessories from a brand that you can trust. Otherwise, you could risk spending your money on equipment that isn’t safe to operate. But don’t panic, because we’ve scoured the Internet for the best gun brands you can trust, and thrown in some recommended products to purchase from each brand, too. Let’s take a look.
1: Ninja Paintball
This company is often considered one of the best high-quality gun brands in the world. The company typically produces a variety of top-notch gear. Nonetheless, they’ve been known to make a few guns as well from time to time.
Features
Ninja Paintball has been in business for over 20 years producing regulators, fill stations and HPA tanks. Their fill stations are considered the industry standard and are the most common type found at amateur and professional paintball games.
One of Their Top Products
One of the top-rated products by Ninja Paintball is the Ninja Air Aluminium HPA N2 Paintball Tank. Constructed out of high-quality sturdy aluminum, this tank is designed to last a long time and be durable for each use. The tank itself is engineered in such a way that it’s adjustable and user-friendly. If you want to adjust the pressure to low, medium or high, you can do so in a timely manner and quickly. This paintball tank is most suitable for using a pistol or gun as it comes with a remote line for easy refills.
The full-sized tank will typically provide you with 200-400 shots, which is a great amount for a thorough session of paintball. We’ve also found that this is a suitable paintball tank if you have shorter arms and tend to struggle with accessing and a tank. While using this tank, you’ll be impressed that it comfortably maintains your chosen pressure, even when handling heavy use.
It’s designed for an entry-level paintball player who has a small budget. Presenting itself in four different sizes, each tank has a pressure of 3000 psi, making it ideal for any type of paintball play. The main effort of this tank has gone into the creation of the product rather than the design of the tank. As a result, its design is minimalist, though not to be flawed. The bottle is black and any essential information is stated in a bold, red text. The regulator is also an ideal size and the gauge is big and easy to read.
Pros
- Lengthy business operation time.
- High-quality equipment and products.
- Direct shipping to the customer.
Cons
- Produces relatively few guns.
- Some clients might find this brand a bit pricey.
Price Range: $24.95 to $229.99.
2: Kingman/Spyder
There’s a strong chance that most paintball participants have experience with Kingman. It is one of the best-known, most popular, and successful of all the paintball brands available for creating paintball guns for an array of skill sets.
Features
Spyder is one of the best paintball gun companies because they focus on a balance of quality and fair pricing. This pricing model makes them an excellent choice for beginning players just getting into the sport.
One of Their Top Products
The Spyder Xtra is a semi-automatic mechanical gun which is great for beginner players. It’s clear that an immense amount of research, time and effort has gone into the design of this paintball gun as it’s essentially an upgraded version of the Kingman’s Classic Series of guns. The Spyder Xtra comes with a double trigger, standard ASA, and vertical feed tube along with an upgraded expansion chamber and a small drop forward to easy use. You also have numerous color choices because Kingman appreciates that you should enjoy how your paintball gun looks and feels, and not just how it operates.
Above everything, what makes this paintball gun one of the top products by Kingman is its high-quality performance. It fires out fast, but it has a long trigger pull so you shouldn’t expect it to shoot as soon as you pull the trigger. However, this paintball gun does shoot extremely accurately, especially when trying to target an opponent at 40 feet away.
We love that this paintball gun is easy to operate, making it perfect for beginners, as it’s a very basic product. If you properly maintain the gun, it won’t let you down and should comfortably work for several years. Regularly clean the gun after each session and we also recommend changing the oil after each use. Thankfully, the quick-release bolt makes cleaning the chamber an easy job so there’s no messing around.
Pros
- Produces many incredible gun models.
- Guns are typically priced fairly.
- Usually quite easy to find.
Cons
- Some guns are fairly flimsy.
- Complaints of loading issues are common.
Price Range: $99 to $209.
3: Dye Precision
Dye Precision is an international company that builds a wide range of items. Their paintball division is just part of their operation. However, their skilled manufacturing abilities make them one of the top-rated brands on the market.
Features
What makes Dye Precision stand out is its dedication to high-quality products built out of the best possible materials. They also produce a broad range of items, including safety gear, guns, and much more.
One of Their Top Products
Dye Precision is dedicated to ensuring that you have hours of fun while playing paintball, but also that you’re safe during each session. For example, the i5 paintball mask has numerous features that will protect your face if you get hit in paintballing. First, its anti-fog thermal lens provides both vertical and horizontal vision while the soft-touch foam provides one of their most comfortable fits. The GSR Pro-Strap is padded, so not only will it protect you and ensure your mask remains on your head, but it won’t dig into your skin.
The i5 paintball mask is impressive and futuristic. Featuring eVOKE compatibility, it can electronically enhance your game and is ready to go wireless at any time. Just plug in the kit and you’ll have instant communication with another i5 or M2 paintball mask. This helps to sync your play to another individual on your team while making the game more visually exciting and thrilling.
Hearing is just as important as seeing when you’re on the field. This is why Dye Precision features an audio clarity setting which is designed to reduce any loud impacts on your ears. Also, with precision-shaped hole patterns, these allow the sound to flow through the ear guard without any distortion so you can hear what your teammates are communicating with you. Finally, the mask also features extra venting so you can comfortably breathe while wearing it without any breath fogging the inside of the mask. Although the mask is strong and sturdy, it’s also lightweight so you can wear it for hours at a time without it weighing you down.
Pros
- An extensive range of available gear.
- Reputation for manufacturing precision.
- High-quality gun designs.
Cons
- Quite costly when compared to other brands.
- Products are sometimes hard to find.
Price Range: $29.95 to $249.99.
4: Custom Products
In spite of a somewhat generic name, Custom Products’s specialty lies in creating parts of guns for replacement use.
Features
Custom Products produces high-quality barrels, feed necks, triggers, and ASA parts for your paintball guns. Each product is custom-built to create a unique product.
One of Their Top Products
The Tank Regulator Tool by Custom Products allows you to securely remove, install or operate any regulator on your paintball marker. Using this tool is easy too, as you just attach it to your workbench with two screws or use a vise to clamp it down. Without this intelligent tool, it’d be difficult to operate your maintenance checks to use your paintball gun.
Pros
- High-quality machining process.
- Fairly-priced replacement cost.
- A diverse array of products.
Cons
- Don’t produce whole guns.
Price Range: $12.95 to $24.95.
5: Empire
Empire produces high-quality guns and gear. This company is quickly becoming known as one of the most reliable and best paintball gun companies available today.
Features
Empire is renowned for the Empire Axe Marker. As a result, it is often considered one of the top 10 most established paintball guns on the market today. They are also respected for their high-quality goggles.
One of Their Top Products
The Empire EVS Mask is one of this brand’s top products for numerous reasons. This mask is designed with more than safety in mind, but it takes into considerations players’ enjoyment of paintball, too. The EVS mask completely summarizes Empire as a brand and how it takes technology and creativity to a whole other level. For example, this mask provides HUD visuals and shows all paintball-related information. So it won’t display distance, pace, and speed, but where your teammates are located, the number of ammunition counts and a map of the field. This information is valuable to your participation in the game and helps you to perform to the best of your ability.
At the bottom of the mask is an LCD display on a 14-inch screen. This technology connects using WiFi or Bluetooth and it also features a GPS tracker so you’re constantly aware of your location. Although the mask has a huge emphasis on technology and experience, it hasn’t neglected the basics of being able to properly see. For example, you still have a 270-degree field of vision with a distortion-free spherical lens. This mask also provides maximum eye protection so that your safety is the number one priority on the field.
The mask can also be worn purely for protective purposes and you don’t need to be intimidated by some of its most advanced features. For example, the scratch-resistance and anti-reflective lens block out 100 percent of harmful UV radiation, so not only are you protecting your eyes from being targeted but from the sun, too. Finally, the silicone head strap offers a non-slip, secure fit for everyone that can be adjusted to fit all head shapes.
Pros
- Produces top-line gun models.
- A wide selection of accessories.
- Great choice of paintballs.
Cons
- Pricey when compared to other manufacturers.
Price Range: $64.75 to $379.99.
6: Planet Eclipse
For those who want higher-end products, Planet Eclipse is a great choice. Many paintball players consider Planet Eclipse to be one of the best paintball gun brands due to their focus on high-quality detail work.
Features
Planet Eclipse produces high-quality guns, part kits, safety equipment, and much more. Its products also feature as one of the best paintball gloves on the market. Their customer service is renowned as a professional service in the business. On top of that, their manufacturing skills aren’t far behind.
One of Their Top Products
The CS2 paintball gun by Planet Eclipse took the Internet by storm when it was released. Many paintballers were impressed by this high-end paintball marker that is best-suited for intermediate and advanced players. If you consider yourself a competitive player, then this will make a great paintballer marker for you. Just from a glance, it’s evident that this gun came to win and stand out from the crowd. It carries an impact and has a light body that is ergonomic and comfortable to hold. The frame is robust to take away some of the shocks so that you’re the one in control.
Another reason why this gun is one of Planet Eclipse’s top-rated protects it for its design and engineering. The markers grip system means that you can use this gun outdoors, even if it’s raining, and not have to worry about it slipping and falling on the floor. You can easily access the board should you wish to thoroughly clean the gun after each session or fit any replacement parts. Merely move the switch and open the grips to do this.
This paintball marker helps to deliver a smooth and accurate shot and it works at an operating pressure of 110 psi, which is much lower than other competitor products. This low pressure helps to delivery efficiency with every shot so that you’ll never waste a fire ever again. Finally, with a long barrel, you can shoot your opponents from a farther distance than other paintball markers, making it a great purchase for competitive sessions.
Pros
- Friendly and easy company to work with.
- Detailed products that are hard to top.
- A broad range of available items.
Cons
- More expensive than other items.
- Their products are harder to find in physical stores.
Price Range: $33.95 to $399.99.
7: Tippmann
Last, but not least, is this well-known paintball gun company. Tippmann Sports is among the most respected and well-distributed companies in the world, making it one of the most recognized paintball gun companies around.
Features
One can consider Tippmann products as a budget line for beginning players. While their products may not be quite as solid as those by a company like Empire, they are a great alternative to those on a budget. This brand even appears on lists of useful gear such as best paintball barrel choices on the market.
One of Their Top Products
Tippman have a range of paintball products, but we’re most impressed with the TIPX pistol, which is available in several colors. This easy-to-use paintball gun is ideal for beginner to intermediate players. The trigger is made out of aluminum that ensures that the gun will last a long time, but this feature also helps the paintballs to fire out and never jam up inside. It’s a highly accurate and reliable paintball marker that will hit almost anything you aim it at after you get used to operating your new gun.
Getting set-up and started is a smooth and painless process. The gun cuts down recoil which not every semi-automatic paintball gun features. This helps to launch the paintball from the chamber to the spot you’re aiming it at. Compared to some other paintball guns, its fire is accurate and always thinking one step ahead.
The TIPX pistol looks appealing and exciting and actually resembles the features of a real pistol. You can also add any accessories you like to this gun to enhance its appearance and customize to your liking. Although this won’t make a huge difference to the gun’s performance, it does help you to fall in love with the gun over and over again.
Pros
- Fair pricing on most items.
- It is typically easy to find in stores.
- The company provides a diverse array of guns.
Cons
- Products may lack the detail found in higher-end brands.
Price Range: $39.99 to $299.99.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are plenty of great paintball gun establishments that you can choose from. Your personal paintball brand selection will depend on the type of products they make. For example, many people love Kingsman/Spyder thanks to their high-quality protective gear.
Others tend to shop at Custom Products when buying gun barrels. Whichever company you choose, you can be comfortable knowing that they are on the short list of the best paintball gun businesses on the market. You really can’t go wrong shopping with any of these great companies.
Do you have any other brands you trust that we haven’t shared above? If so, we’d love to hear your recommendations and feedback, so feel free to share any suggestions in the comments.
How to Pick the Best Airsoft Sniper Rifle for Gaming (Reviews)
Airsoft sniper rifles are popular because of their ability to hit targets over long distances. Their mechanics allow for amazing accuracy over great lengths. In most cases, their distance is just over 100 yards, which is incredible regarding airsoft weaponry.
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Airsoft Sniper Advantages
There are many advantages when looking for airsoft guns, including the massive distance they can fire across. These types of guns feature long barrels that enable them to have excellent precision compared to small airsoft guns. For a gun to qualify as a viable sniper, it has to be effective at about a hundred yards. A proper sniper rifle can change the dynamic of play completely, as long as the area is sufficient.
Any good rifle can be used with an optic scope, but sniper rifles are in a class of their own. Many are designed to resemble a real rifle to give you a realistic experience. However, it can take some time getting used to airsoft sniper rifles if you’ve never operated a real gun before.
Primarily, you’ll want to look for wide, open spaces where you can pick off opponents. It’s important to remember to stay out of the middle of these spaces yourself, so you can get out the gunfire while avoid getting hit.
Different Types of Airsoft Rifles on the Market
Similar to your regular airsoft rifle, airsoft snipers are made up of three different types of weaponry. You’ll find that many regular airsoft guns are gas blowback or an automatic electric gun. Beneath we’ve listed the main types of airsoft sniper rifles, factors you can expect to find, and the differences between each kind.
1. Spring Sniper Rifles
Airsoft guns powered by springs use energy stored within the spring to compress air before launching a pellet to the target. To operate this type of rifle, you must cock a spring gun before each shot. Doing this requires some physical effort where you pull back the pistols or the shotgun’s gun to ensure the gun is ready to fire. As spring sniper rifles are mainly used for gaming, they generally offer ultra high-powered precision.
Bear in mind that this type of rifle is usually weaker than gas or electric models, although that doesn’t mean they lack power altogether. Most rifles can attain a firing speed of 500 fps, but operating the gun requires cocking the gun prior to every shot. As a result, this can actually make the difference between shooting someone else or you getting shot. But, other types of sniper rifles don’t require this action.
There’s also a consideration that cocking the gun each time doesn’t have a realistic approach, and spring-powered guns generally shoot at low speeds. This can less accuracy, and the gun doesn’t perform at its best when it's raining or windy outside. On the plus side, these guns can fire endlessly as you don’t need to use ammunition.
2. Gas Blowback
Gas blowback rifles are the most popular types of rifles on the market probably because they’re the most realistic airsoft guns. They’re a semi-automatic type of gun that uses green gas or CO2 for its power source. This compressed air is then used to release the BB from the chamber without having to cock the slide every time. There are several models of gas blowback rifles that can all be fired at the same time that you release the trigger.
Gas-powered rifles are an improvement from spring guns because they have better power and speeds of around 300 fps. With this increased power, it means you can accurately shoot your target and reach a much farther distance too. Made from full metal, they’re durable and look realistic, but they don’t perform well in cold conditions. Also, once the gas runs out, the game is over as you can’t pause the game to refill with gas.
3. Electric Rifles (Also Known as AEG)
Electric rifles are mainly powered by an 8.4v battery and manly feature a full metal body and reinforced metal internals which makes these types of rifles the most expensive. Most AEG rifles are designed for high performance and intense power, so many of the brands can cost twice as much as the two options above.
There are many advantages to choosing an electric rifle. You can recharge their batteries, which can save you a huge amount of money, and they generally perform well in an array of temperatures. By shooting at speeds of 500 fps, they’re durable and great for intense games. You can also increase the amount of time playing by carrying an extra battery pack, though if you’re forgetful, this could be a major disadvantage for you.
Features to Compare
Before you choose what rifle is best for you. It's important to take all of the variables of these types of weapons into consideration.
The various factors are especially important. And can affect how you make your decision quite a lot when picking the best airsoft sniper rifle.
1. Type of Gun Depending On Your Position
Depending on the situations you prefer during games, you’ll want to pick certain weapons for their strengths. For example, a gas blowback rifle is good for large open spaces. But you can use an AEG for shorter distances if you still prefer to snipe.
For an airsoft sniper, you’ll require a rifle with a long barrel, high FPS and excellent accuracy. The best types are usually non-electric and feature a single-shot design. For airsoft support gunners, you’ll generally require an automatic airsoft gun with a high rate of fire and large capacity. Gunners tend to spray hundreds of pellets in one hot, so it’s important that your weapon can fire bursts that are accurate.
An airsoft rifleman makes up the majority of the squad and will require an airsoft sniper that can target over 100 feet while still targeting close subjects. The best type of gun for this player are semi-automatic as they can target many ranges. Finally, an airsoft team leader will need one of the highest-quality rifles you can purchase. This should have a rapid-fire system and be either semi or fully automatic.
2. FPS
FPS or ‘feet per second’ is another important variable when making your decision.
Sniper rifles should have at least 400 FPS to be able to be used for this position. This is especially important, as you’ll be using heavier pellets because of your position as a sniper. If you intend on sniping, then the higher this bigger, the better.
If your rifle doesn’t have this amount of power it’s unlikely you’ll be able to pick off opponents at long-distance.
You can also opt for lighter pellets if conditions are calm, allowing you to shoot farther. If a gust of wind does whip up, however, any shots you make will be sent off-track.
3. Optics
Optics are essential to fulfill your role as a sniper. The best guns can’t help you hit a target without the aid of a scope. It’s best to get a rifle that allows you to remove your scope so that you can replace it with one that you prefer if you don’t like the original.
It’s always important to dial in your scope before you start a match! Trying to do this in the thick of combat will give your position away as you’ll most likely have to practice multiple shots before you find the right settings. When shooting, it’s much better to aim for the center of the target’s body. When shopping for scopes, you should aim for products that give you a range of 150-200 yards.
For close distances, consider a 1x red dot sight, but for longer distances, a 4x or 3-9x scope would be perfect. When you’re playing outdoors, your targets will be much farther away compared to indoors, so you should consider the amount of wind and elevation needed.
4. Accessories
As well as the normal itinerary that helps you in your duties as a marksman, there are also certain accessories that you can use to assist your gameplay.
The most notable of these is a sling, which gives you quick access to your sidearm without having to drop your rifle. This is useful in circumstances where someone gets the jump on you and you have to deal with the situation as quickly as possible.
Bipods are another great addition, allowing you to stabilize your shooting (as long as you have something to rest it on). Consider what type of accessories come with your airsoft rifle, and which ones you can buy to enhance your game.
5. Budget
A budget should definitely come into the equation since there’s a range of prices for all airsoft snipers. Spending a lot of money doesn’t necessarily mean you’re purchasing the best airsoft sniper rifle as this unit might not be great for your skills. With that being said, we don’t suggest purchasing the cheapest rifle you can find, but there are many high-quality versions you can purchase, even if you’re on a budget.
6. Weight
We want you to be as comfortable as possible while holding your airsoft rifle which is why you should consider the unit’s weight. Although it might seem more fun and realistic to run with a heavy gun, these can become too heavy to handle for most airsoft players. But if you’re a beginner, we suggest opting for a versatile lightweight model so that it’s comfortable and reliable for you to use.
Finding Airsoft Guns for You
Here we are going to look at three of the best airsoft rifles available. We have chosen these for their immediate appeal and great features that we think you’ll love.
The Best Airsoft Sniper Rifles
Comparison Table
Product | Image | Details | Our Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Best Airsoft Sniper Rifle |
| a fantastic spring action rifle with a realistic bolt-action design | ||
UTG Accushot Competition Shadow Ops Best Airsoft Sniper Rifle |
| a unique, designed to use in the cold | ||
H&K HK Sl9 AEG Best Airsoft Sniper Rifle |  | a perfect rifle for short fields and light to boot |
Here's Our Full Reviews Of
The Best Airsoft Sniper Rifle For 2018
The Bbtac Bt-96 is a fantastic spring action rifle with a realistic bolt-action design.
As long as you’re able to stay on top of the spring. The Bbtac bt-96 is good to go and it comes with some great accessories out of the box, including a bipod and an optic scope.
The Bbtac bt-96 has an FPS rating of 400 with .20 ammunition which is considered to be on the low side. But it's good for someone who is undecided on their role as a sniper. Consider that this high-quality unit is constructed from heavy-duty materials to provide a solid weight and feel, and create a realistic look. By featuring a lengthy tight-bore barrel, adjustable hop-up, and high-quality bolt action spring system, this sniper provides excellent accuracy and power.
The magazines for this rifle can take some getting used. But this is easily overlooked with some practice. All in all, we consider the Bbtac bt-96 a brilliant entry-level rifle.
Pros
Cons
Quality | Price | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|
Good | $$$ |
UTG's Accushot is perfect if you’ve decided to take up sniping seriously.
This brilliant rifle also comes with a bipod and extra magazines, which can be a lifesaver if you get caught in the thick of it.
Unfortunately, the Accushot does not come with a scope. But this is a small concession to make for such a great gun (many players will prefer to find their scopes anyway). The Accushot is also unique, and designed to be used in the cold, which is apparent in its oversized bolt. This is easily operable regardless of whether you wear heavy gloves or not.
The magazines that come with the rifle are equipped with a spring-loaded assist, making them easy to load. The Accushot is a good pick for the budding sniper, and the only real issue we can see is the need to buy a scope.
Pros
Cons
Quality | Price | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|
Good | $ |
If you’re planning to take on opponents at a shorter distance, then the h&k HK sl9 AEG works beautifully. It has a monstrous FPS of 430-440, which means it has some serious kick to it, and the fully automatic mode is great for saturating play areas with gunfire.
However, this model has no battery, bipod or scope. While this might seem disadvantageous, finding all the right pieces for the perfect marker is what most players cherish.
The noise the h&k HK makes can be compensated for by its sheer power. With an inner barrel that runs along the outer barrel, it’s hard not only super accurate but brutal to be on the other end of. This is a perfect rifle for short fields and light to boot.
Pros
Cons
Quality | Price | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|
Great Choice | $$$ |
Which of The Above Is the Best Airsoft Sniper Rifle For You?
We hope you enjoyed reading our selection of the best airsoft snipers and have found a unit that is right for you. Never rush your decision, as this should be a thought-out process, and sometimes buying the cheapest rifle can cost you more in the long run.
If you have any recommendations to products that we haven’t listed above, please share your thoughts in the comments, as we’d love to hear from you.
5 Ways On How To Remove Rust From An Air Rifle Gun
You never want to let your air rifle get rusty. Rust is a big problem for any gun. Because it can cause them to break or trigger major performance issues. You never want to use or fire a rusty gun if you can avoid it. Luckily, getting rid of rust is not too hard. This article will cover some of the methods that can be used for all different types of how to remove rust from a gun.
Learning to Assess the Damage By Checking On How To Remove Rust From A Gun
Before you start learning how to remove rust from a gun. You need to figure out how bad the wear and tear is. This will give you a benchmark for what supplies you need.
The most important part of this assessment is figuring out what type of finish your air rifle has. Each brand uses something different, and certain finishes can be harmed by chemicals.
Lighter surface rust, which is generally the easiest to deal. It can be taken care of with at-home products. However, deeper or more serious rust is going to require heavy-duty materials.
Taking Care of Light Surface Rust
Light surface rust, while annoying, is one of the best problems to have because it is the easiest to deal with. In fact, the only reason you would want to break out any specialized products for light rust is if your gun has a finish that only works with certain materials.
Normally, this is best solved with fine steel wool. However, soft brass brushes also do a good job at rubbing the rust off. Those tools can be found at most hardware shops, but auto shops work as well. No matter which you choose, you can freely use any lubricant you wish to get rid of the rust.
Apply An Oil
Once you have a brush and some lubricant, you should liberally apply the oil to any rusty surface you see and lightly scrape at it with your tool.
Though that is simple, there are some mistakes you can make when removing this type of rust. The biggest is by getting too abrasive of cleaning material. This can hurt the finish if you aren't careful. The finish can also be damaged if you use too little lubrication.
If your gun has a special finish that you need to protect you should use something like Blue Wonder Gun Cleaner or another specialized product. Take your time and be patient. There is no reason to get too aggressive and damage your rifle.
Blue Wonder Gun Cleaner 4 oz Tube
- BL WNDR GN CLNR 4OZ TUBE - Model: Gun Clnr
Cleaning Off Deeper Rust
Unfortunately, not all guns have light surface rust. Sometimes, the affliction is much stronger. In those cases, you need to amp up your materials. There are several specialized options for deep rust, but turtle wax is one of the most commonly used by gun enthusiasts.
Though the steps of this process are similar to how you remove light rust, the application is a bit different. You first need to take your rifle apart and smear your wax across all of the rust-covered surfaces. Then, put the parts in the sun and allow them to completely dry. Only once everything is thoroughly dry can you resume cleaning.
Wipe With Rag
Once you're sure the wax is set, wipe everything down with a rag. This should be able to get rid of any unwanted material, but if some persist you can go over it with lubricant and steel wool.
Also, note that if your rifle only has a few large rust spots you do not need to break the gun down. Rather, saturate the rusty areas with high-quality oil and go over them with a brush or wool.
Removing Interior Barrel Rust
This last section on how to remove rust from a gun will cover interior barrel rust. As you can imagine, this is the most difficult rust to deal with. While some outside rust is irksome, rust inside the barrel can make it dangerous to use your air rifle. In fact, if you look down the barrel with a light and see any rust. You have to remove it before using the gun.
For this process, you want to lubricate the inside of the barrel. And then clean it with a bronze or nylon brush. Though you may consider stainless steel options, those will often damage the barrel and reduce accuracy. After you've gone through the barrel, lubricate it one last time and you're done.
Here's A Relevant Video From YouTube:
Keeping Your Rifle Rust-Free
When it comes to air rifle upkeep. You want to make sure you know how to remove rust from a gun. Not all rifles are going to get rusty. But it is a great tool to have for whenever you encounter the problem. There are several types of rust, but as long as you know how to handle each of them. You will always be properly prepared.
9 Best Paintball Pants On The Market Today (Reviews)
One of the most important parts of paintball is the equipment. First you need a paintball gun. And then you need a good pair of paintball pants.
You always want to make sure you are protected during play. Which means you need to cover your legs. Getting a great pair of pants with all the necessary features is a great way to both enhance your comfort and create a much better paintball experience.
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Choosing the Right Paintball Pants for You
Paintball pants are a key part of gearing up for a game. But they are not all created equal. Some are more flexible, some prioritize durability and cushion, while others simply focus on being as breathable as possible. The following list shows some of the best pants on the market. And breaks down the distinct features that make them stand out from the crowd.
The 9 Best Paintball Pants Comparison Table
Product | Image | Details | Our Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
JT Cargo Paintball Pants |
| Pants come with ripstop core fabric to prevent any tears | ||
Valken Crusade Hatch Pants |
| Extremely breathable | ||
HK Army Hardline Pro Pants |
| Most sturdy and heavy-duty options | ||
Valken Fate Exo Paintball Pants |
| Come with stretch panels | ||
Gl Sports Glide Performance Paintball Pants |
| A minimal design, stretch material on both the groin and inner thigh | ||
Bunker Kings Supreme Paintball Pants |
| Extra flexibility | ||
Exalt Paintball Thrasher Pants T4 |
| Great combination of protection and flexibility | ||
Dye UL Pants |
| Great lightweight option | ||
Planet Eclipse Distortion Code Pants |
| Breathable pants |
Here's Our Full Reviews Of
The 9 Best Paintball Pants For 2018
We start with some of the most advanced and durable paintball pants on the market. JR Cargo Paintball Pants are best known for their impressive range of features, which work together to keep you protected in all environments. No matter how rough the conditions are you may face, with these, your legs will stay safe.
Durable
This clothing item is extremely durable. Everybody wants their purchases to be long-lasting. Especially when you're quickly moving and tumbling through many different types of terrain. These pants come with ripstop core fabric to prevent any tears. As well as padded knees, stretch crotch, and low back. Those traits combined with the drawstring leg cuffs to make sure the pants always fit in the way you want.
Another important feature of these pants is the versatility. JT Cargo comes with an adjustable waist that ensures you can make them fit in any way that you want. That ensures you never have to worry about them being too small or too big. All of the above features, mixed with the specially designed pocket just for your squeegee. Makes these perfect for all types of play.
Pros
Cons
Quality | Price | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|
Great Pants | $$ |
Number two in our discussion of the best paintball pants, the Valken Crusade Hatch Pants come from one of the most trusted brands around. There are several reasons to love these pants, but one of the biggest is how affordable they are. These provide you with one of the best quality-to-cost ratios around, which is always a welcome surprise in the expensive world of paintball.
Design
The hatched part of the pants name comes from their design. They also have a padded fly with two buttons, no liner, and both Velcro and zipper. To add to that minimalist style, these pants come with few belt loops (for those who want a tighter fit), two front pockets, and a pair or swab pockets on the side.
These Valkens are also extremely breathable, which is an important trait when you're running around a paintball course. Being able to keep out heat or sweat is essential to making sure you can play as long as you want. Also, the pants also come with special stretch material to keep them feeling light at all times.
Pros
Cons
Quality | Price | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|
High | $$ |
As the name suggests, the HK Army Hardline Pro Pants are one of the most sturdy and heavy-duty options out there. These pants close with two buttons, and they come with an elastic strap belt adjustment. You also get belt loops and two side front water-resistant pockets that sit on top of the thigh.
Velcro Straps
In addition, there is extra padding in the knee (to prevent any damage that comes from tumbles or falls) as well as Velco straps at the ankle to secure the pants. That is then supplemented by double stitching that helps prevent extra stretching or tears. Paintball is a tough sport, and you want to be able to make sure your pants keep up under duress during kneeling, diving, or sliding. These deliver on that front.
However, the biggest draw of these pants is their breathability and great water resistance. As with the Valken Crusade, the HK Army Hardline are designed to make sure you never sweat or overheat too much. That is always a welcome feature, and here it is a great compliment to the mesh-lined material to keep you dry on two different levels. The breathable mesh sits throughout the back, groin, and above the knee.
Pros
Cons
Quality | Price | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|
Good | $$ |
Our next Valken model, the Exo Paintball Pants have the same dependability as the crusader hatch pants but they feature a ton of top-of-the-line characteristics. These pants are insanely durable, but also quite breathable thanks to their special polyester material. You get all of the strength of heavier pants without any of the stuffiness.
Different Ways To Wear
You are also able to adjust the length on these, which gives you a ton of different ways to wear them. The Velcro closure is important when it comes to finding the exact fit you want for any given situation. Sometimes you want pants to be looser, and sometimes you want them higher up. The Fate Exo pants give you all of the options you could ever want.
Another great bonus with these is that they come with stretch panels built directly into the crotch for extra flexibility, as well as heavy-duty nylon knees. They look great as well. Strong pants are good to have, but you want your equipment to look good. These are just like the original Fate pants, except they have an improved pattern on top of their extensive features.
Pros
Cons
Quality | Price | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|
Good | $$ |
When talking about the best paintball pants, it is impossible not to mention weight. You want your pants to be with you for a long time (not a given in the rough world of paintball), but you also want something that will help you freely move around. The Gl Sports Glide Performance Paintball Pants do exactly that, giving you both form and function in one package.
Lightweight and Durable
These pants work because, while they are durable in all the areas that need it, they are also lightweight in the regions that typically do not come with problems. You get a sleek, elastic drawstring, wide knee pads, belt loops and double stitching to prevent wear and tear.
The Sports Glide also feature a minimal design, stretch material on both the groin and inner thigh, as well as unique mesh pads to allow and promote airflow. The goal of these pants is to give you the best of both worlds while you're running around, and they hit that mark with flying colors.
Pros
Cons
Quality | Price | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|
Good | $$ |
One of the more aggressively-named options on this list, the Bunker Kings Supreme Paintball Pants are a great choice for anyone who wants to take the extra effort to stay safe while playing paintball.
This product comes with a Velcro close fly, as well as a removable pad that covers the groin area. That is then bolstered by padded knees and extra padding in the ankle. The adjustable straps help create a great fit, while the mesh-lined material reduces sweat.
Another reason to choose these pants is the extra flexibility that runs throughout the groin area. This gives you a much greater range of motion than other options and makes sure your pants never get in the way of your play. On top of that, there are also two zippered front pockets that give you extra storage for anything you might want to carry during an outing.
Pros
Cons
Quality | Price | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|
Average | $$ |
Every pair of pants on this list has something that makes them unique, and the Exalt Thrasher Pants T4 sets themselves apart with their knee protection and pocket options. These have six different pockets that help you prepare for numerous situations. Two of the pockets are water resistant, two are swab pockets, and two are Velcro close. One of them even has special microfiber cloth inside to help you clean goggles.
Knee Protection
The other characteristic that helps these stand out is the excellent knee protection. You always want your knees to remain protected when out on a course or in a game. The Thrasher Pants protect you with extra padding that is so thick you may not even need knee pads while wearing them. That type of protection is not something you will readily find on the market, and it is a welcome addition here.
These pants also come with many of the standard additions you want in high-quality pants. You get belt loops, a silicone pattern that helps keep your pack in place, stretch material throughout the groin and stretch material around the knee pads. A great combination of protection and flexibility.
Pros
Cons
Here's A Relevant Video From YouTube:
Quality | Price | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|
Average | $$ |
Another great lightweight option, Dye UL Pants are fantastic for anyone who wants extra stretch or who needs a lot of extra mobility. These have 4-way stretch to give you the easiest movement possible. They are also incredibly breathable, making them one of the best lightweight packages around.
Lightest Pants
As good as that extra mobility is. There is no reason to invest in extra movement without a lightweight feel. The Dye UL are some of the lightest pants on the market. The back of the legs and groin both have a special stretch mesh. To keep you going for as long as you want. In fact, the back leg is so thin it is almost see-through.
However, do not worry about that reduced weight sacrificing any other important features. Dye UL pants are incredibly durable, and they are also waterproof to handle a range of different environments. The pants are water resistant all the way through, and they wear without tearing. They also tie close and come with two swab pockets. To top off the extensive features. They also come with adjustable Velcro bands on the waist and special Velcro adjustments on the ankle.
Pros
Cons
Quality | Price | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|
Good | $$ |
We end our list with the Planet Eclipse Distortion Code Pants. This product comes with extra padding in both the groin and knees, and it is also equipped with removable hip padding. The knee padding is quite thick, giving you more protection and helping you push through any tough situations you may find yourself in.
A Belt Loop
These, like so many different pants, come with a belt loop. However, in this case, the belt can be threaded completely under the back. To keep from getting caught up with your pack. A nice feature for anyone who wants a bit more ease as they move around. On that note, there is also rubberized lumbar support that holds your back as you run.
Other great features here include a fly with two snaps, Velcro, and a zipper. You can adjust the waist with the Velcro to give you a snug fit. And unique stretch panels in the groin and knees keep your pants move with you instead of against you. There is also a small zippered pocket for your ID and key, drawstring cinchers on the ankles, and mesh lining throughout the fabric. That keeps the pants breathable and helps them naturally vent as you sweat.
Pros
Cons
Quality | Price | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|
Average | $$ |
Making Sure Your Stay as Protected and as Comfortable as Possible
There are many different options when it comes to choosing the best paintball pants for you. Some are lightweight, some are heavy duty, and some are extremely breathable. Whatever you need, as long as you choose from the above nine you will be fine.
Though all of the options laid out in this guide each bring something different to the table, they all give you the standard features and then stack them with their premium upgrades. It is up to you to choose what exact upgrades you want and need.