Paintball 101 – What You Need To Know

Paintball is a game played up of many players or teams. It can be played indoors or out, with as few as two people or as many as 500. Paintball is played at designated fields, back yards or even in the woods. A game can last as little as 5 minutes or hours with all depending on one to take something, find something, or to just be the last person not marked. Depending on the location of where you play, the strategy of your game will vary from being quiet and sneaky and choosing your shots carefully, to being loud, fast, and shooting constantly. Paintball is a competitive sport played like any other competitive sport, to win. It is challenging game of tag, hide-and-seek or even capture-the-flag. Being you shoot at other people and they shoot at you, paintball requires safety equipment to be worn such as goggles, special clothing and etc.An essential part of paintball is the paintball itself. As in tennis, the ball is the main element of a paintball game. But unlike a tennis game, paintball has dozens, often hundreds, of "balls" in play at any one time. As the name implies, these balls are actually tiny containers of paint.Paintballs have a really simple construction. They're actually a lot like bath-oil beads. They are made of colored liquid enclosed in a gelatin shell and are available in a variety of colors. Paintball are also non-toxic, biodegradable and are water soluble.Basically, a paintball is like a small water balloon, weighing only a few grams. The shell holds up if you handle it or drop it from a short distance. When you shoot a paintball from a gun, however, it bursts on impact and leaves large splatter of paint.The job of the paintball gun, or as many call a marker, is to shoot the paintball at a high rate of speed. In a standard gun, the propulsion system is compressed gas such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen or ordinary air and is stored in small or large tanks that can be attached to the gun. The paintball gun is also attached to a hopper, which holds the paintballs.Maintaining safety in paintball is important to make the game safe. The power of paintball guns is strictly regulated. Guns in play are adjusted so that the maximum speed of the paintball is 300 feet per second. A paintball traveling at this speed is not likely to cause serious injury if it hits you, though it will sting and can leave a bruise. Also, since wind resistance starts slowing the paintball down as soon as it leaves the gun, it has a reduced impact when fired from a greater distance. Speeding paintballs can cause serious injury to the eyes and paintball players always wear protection.In addition to playing paintball for recreational use, paintball is also part of military and police training. In terms of feel and handling, a paintball gun has little in common with an actual firearm, but paintball is still good training for combat situations. Mainly, it lets soldiers and police practice strategy and the fine art of not getting shot.There are many paintball leagues around with American Paintball League being one of the largest in the paintball industry. Another paintball league is the National Professional Paintball League. There are the two main paintball leagues. Though they both pertain to paintball, each has their own set of rules for playing the sport.
About the Author:Jeffrey Jones writes about paintball and paintball guns. See http://www.paintballemporium.com for more information.Read more articles by: Jeffrey Jones This article is distributed by: www.iSnare.com

Paintball Guns Examined

A paintball gun is a device, or a replica of an actual firearm used to mark an opposing player with paint in the popular game of paintball. It uses different types of propellants such as expanding gases to propel a paintball through a barrel with a muzzle velocity of approximately 300 ft/s to break upon impact.
Firing Systems in Paintball Guns:
In the Electro-pneumatic firing system, electrical power from an onboard battery is used to drive a motor that turns gears inside the gun to compress and release a piston, which creates a blast of air that propels the paintball. These guns are capable of multiple firing modes, such as three-shot bursts, six-shot bursts or fully automatic. Most of them are capable of firing 300 to 900 rounds per minute (RPM) and their muzzle velocities range from 200 to 400 feet per second (FPS).
In mechanical or spring-powered firing system, the paintball guns are mostly single-shot or spring-cocked devices the spring has to be cocked by pulling back the slide or bolt before firing each shot. In some devices, excess air not used to propel the ball is then used to re-cock the hammer which is known as a blowback system. Mechanical paintball guns are able to fire at a rate of 200 to 275 FPS.
Gas-powered firing systems use pressurized gases like propane and HFC134a refrigerant to propel paintballs. They are also capable of using blowback mechanism, in which on-board or magazine-stored gas storage system is used to propel the paintballs and the same compressed air that propels the paintball is used to pull back the slide. So they are also capable of automatic or semi-automatic fire.
Types of paintball Guns:
There are various types of paintball guns which come in different sizes, configurations, styles and designs. Pistols are the smallest, running off of twelve gram CO2 cartridges. They have to be reloaded after ten shoots. Since pistols are less powerful with smaller paintball capacity, they are normally used for back-ups.
With pump guns, the user has to manually load the paintballs into the chamber, they cannot be automatic. They are much cheaper, very accurate and powerful in comparison to other paintball guns. Some of them come with a constant trigger so you can hold the trigger down and just pump it to shoot.
Semi-automatic paintball guns are quite expensive and may even cost you up to a $1000. They are capable of semi-automatic and automatic fire. The trigger is considerably sensitive and most models have shorter trigger pulls.
Specially configured paintball guns such as stock guns can only hold about 10 paintballs, and must be parallel to the breech, which requires tilting to load a paintball. A stock class paintball gun is powered by a single 12 gram CO2 powerlet. The knob that holds the powerlet has to be removed in order to change it. They are mostly used for stock only games. Regular pump paintball guns can also be modified to fit stock class specifications.
Paintballing HQ http://paintballinghq.com/ offers articles and tips about paintballing from beginner to expert.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carl_Walker

Are you in search of the best sourced opinion pertaining to paintball markers.

Are you in search of the best sourced opinion pertaining to paintball markers. Often when you are looking for top-quality advice concerning paintball markers, you'll find it easier said than done separating value packed information from reckless paintball markers suggestions and support so it is wise to recognize ways of moderating the information you are given. Here's several tips which we really think you should use when you are trying to find information about paintball markers. Please understand that the guidance we put forward is only pertinent to web based information about paintball markers. We do not give you any guidance or tips for researching in 'real world' situations. Discount Paintball Gear at PaintballFirst.comClick Here for discounts on thousands of paintball products online. No need to look anywhere else. We price match.A good pointer to follow when you are presented with help and advice regarding a paintball markers web would be to confirm the sites ownership. This may divulge who is behind the site paintball markers identifications The easiest way to work out who is at the back of the paintball markers website is to look on the 'contact' page or 'about this site' information. All reliable sites providing content on paintball markers, will almost certainly provide an 'about' webpage which will provide you with the owner's details. The details should let you know some indication regarding the owner's proficency and credentials. You can then arrive at a decision about the webmaster's depth of experience, to offer help regarding paintball markers.
About the AuthorBarry Wise is the webmaster for http://www.paintball-markers-discount.info Source: ArticleTrader.com

Is Airsoft Better Than Paintball?

Airsoft fans and paintballers are devoted fans of their sports. Is one really better than the other?

This question is bound to stir debate and controversy amongst the most ardent of airsoft or paintball fans.
Both airsoft and paintball are both hobbies based on replica firearms and wargames. Is this unhealthy? That depends moreso on the person themselves rather than the hobby. An interest in pursuing a hobby that involves weaponry only becomes unhealthy if taken to extremes - which is true of most things in life. Paintball and airsoft are not morbid hobbies and only run the risk of being dangerous when participated in by dangerous people.
Paintball itself is a more mobile sport. It requires a certain level of physical fitness, mobility and skill - if you paintball then you gotta be able to move fast. The weapons themselves are functional and are only designed to serve the purpose of the sport as opposed to looking good. Paintball rifles are designed to take a real beating when it comes to their use. Paintball fans fall into the 'extreme sport' category and enjoy the pure adrenaline of each paintball match and are driven by the desire to win.
Airsoft is a somewhat different sport. The guns used in airsoft are both conversation pieces and are also functional sports 'weapons'. Airsoft rifles and pistols are capable of firing both small plastic pellets and paint filled pellets so are useful both in the sport itself and also for backyard target practice.
The major difference is the power of the guns themselves. Paintball guns are driven by high powered gas cylinders whereas airsoft guns fire projectiles either through springs, electronic firing mechanisms or with compressed gas. The issue is that most airsoft guns lack the range and accuracy of the larger paintball guns simply because they were never designed with long range fire in mind.
Conversely airsoft guns are available in a huge range of styles and models. Everything from a Glock handgun to a sniper rifle to a CAR15 assault rifle. Airsoft guns are equally at home hanging in your livingroom or at use on the airsoft playing field. You can even go as far as buying an airsoft minigun. Many airsoft fans simply collect the guns and never get involved in airsoft wargames at all. This is the much the same as many sword collectors - they display the weapons at home but don't go running around waving them at people.
The truth is that neither airsoft nor paintball is superior. They're both a case of personal preference. If you're the extreme sports type then paintball will suit you more. If you're more of a collector then airsoft will be more you thing.
Regardless of whether you're a paintball fan or an airsoft fan it's essential to take proper safety precautions when using these guns. Proper eye protection in the form of safety goggles should always be worn and suitable protective clothing to cover your neck and upper torso should also be worn. Even though some people see these as guns as toys they are capable of causing injury either through accident or even deliberate malice.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
This article was written by Niall Roche and provided courtesy of Airsoft-Guns-Guide.com where you can find lots of information on air soft guns.

Selling air! There's big business in paintball and airguns!

Selling air! There's big business in paintball and airguns!
Author: Shooting Industry

There's money in selling air. Airguns and paintball continue to gain market share as they increase in popularity.

Innovation in air guns is attracting new customers, who also are motivated by a continuing decrease in shooting opportunities in urban areas.

The extreme aspect of paintball is drawing huge numbers of young customers, making it one of the fastest growing sports in the nation. Paintball made its first official appearance at the SHOT Show in January and will return for SHOT Show 2006

Remarkably, many gun dealers don't offer air guns or paintball in their stores. With the growth trends in these categories, that is likely a mistake.

Tremendous Growth

Paintball's debut at this year's SHOT Show was a resounding success, according to J.J. Brookshire, National Paintball business development director.

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An Introduction to Airsoft Terminology...

by SiteInsights Airsoft Staff

Every hobby/sport has it's own lingo - words and acronyms specific to itself which participants and insiders are well versed in but which newcomers or the general public may not be. Airsoft is no different and has more than it's fair share of TLA's (Three Letter Acronyms) and Airsoft specific words which can be overwhelming, if not downright intimidating to a "newbie".

Trying Airsoft for the first time is challenging enough without the added anxiety of not being able to understand what you're team mates are saying to you! No one wants to look like an idiot on the field or off, so a quick primer on essential Airsoft terminology is probably a good idea before you attend your first skirmish.

With that in mind below you will find an alphabetical list of some of the more common Airsoft terms along with a short definition of their meanings.

• Airsoft - A game in which players participate in the simulation of military or law enforcement combat with replica military firearms and military-style tactics, or a replica firearm of metal or plastic.
• AEG (Automatic Electric Gun) - Auto Electric Guns are battery-operated airsoft guns that allows for both fully automatic firing and semi-automatic firing. The user can select between the two functions by a switch. Within every Auto Electric Gun is a high-powered motor which allows for instantaneous firing as soon as the trigger is pulled.
• Barrel - The tube that the BB travels through. It holds the BB straight as it gains speed and ensures that it leaves the gun still travelling in the same direction. Airsoft barrels are also smooth inside and are not rifled like most firearms.
• BB (Ball Bearing) - Usually 6mm in diameter, these small plastic balls weighing less than half a gram each are the ammunition used by Airsoft guns.
• BDU (Battle Dress Uniform) - The name given to the clothing worn by a participant during combat. The traditional BDU used in the west is the green DPM jacket, helmet, trousers and boots.
• Caliber - A measure of the diameter of a bullet, pellet or BB. Airsoft replicas typically use 6mm caliber BBs.
• Carbine - A rifle with a Shortened (usually tougher) barrel than longer versions of the same rifle. The Carbine is useful as it weighs less and is shorter than most other rifles, making it tactically suitable for a wider range of roles.
• Covert Action - Performed secretively. Military maneuvers behind enemy lines are often covert actions, so that the enemy will not detect any forces in the area.
• CQC (Close Quarters Combat) - As the name suggests, CQC is the name given to the tactics and methodologies used while fighting at close range. The tactics used are very different to those employed on open ground, and rely more on speed and aggression to be successful.
• Fire Selector Switch - A switch that allows the shooter to change between modes of fire. The fire selector switch is only present on guns that allow multiple modes of fire.
• FPS (Feet Per Second) - The speed of BBs during flight is often measured in feet per second.
• HOP-UP - A device installed in most airsoft guns to increase range. A small piece of rubber is pushed inside the back end of the barrel through a hole in the top. When the gun is fired, the rubber grips the top surface of the BB, putting back-spin on it. As the BB leaves the barrel. The top surface has less drag, but the lower surface has greater drag, causing the BB to stay in the air longer and travel a noticeably farther distance.
• LARP (Live Action Role Play) - A type of game where players really immerse themselves in the game and the story behind it. Role play games often last for a long time and the focus is more on authenticity of the genre, than accuracy of your shooting.
• Magazine - The magazine is a detachable part of the gun that holds the ammunition ready for shooting.
• Muzzle - The muzzle is the very front of the gun, the tip of the barrel.
• Muzzle Velocity - Speed of a BB as it leaves the muzzle of the weapon.
• Newbie - A person new to the sport of Airsoft
• RIS (Rail Interface System) - A RIS rail is a flat hexagonal slatted rail that is attached to a strong-point on some Airsoft guns. There are many accessories available that attach directly to this rail in seconds, making a set of RIS rails an almost essential add-on.
• ROF (Rate of Fire) - The rate of fire is measured for each gun by counting how many shots can be fired in 1 minute in fully automatic mode or in RPM.
• Round - Another name for a bullet or BB.
• RPM (Rounds Per Minute) - The number of shots which can be fired in 1 minute in fully automatic mode.
• SF (Sustained Fire) - Another name for fully-automatic fire.
• Skirmishing - Playing wargames with Airsoft or Paintball guns.
• Springer - A gun powered by a manually cocked spring.

The list of terms and acronyms above is by no means complete, but should be enough to get you by until you have mastered the terminology as well as the tactics of this wonderful hobby/sport!

Thanks for reading...
SiteInsights Airsoft

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