Congratulations on your decision to join the exciting extreme sport of paintball! One of your first tasks will likely involve looking at paintball guns for sale and then making the big decision on which one to purchase. The following 5 considerations may help make this task less painful and much more enjoyable.

1. Consider Where You Will Play

One very important consideration that is often overlooked by many paintball players looking to buy paintball guns is where they are going to spend most of their time playing. Will it be in an abandoned lot, nearby wooded area or at the local paintball course. This important fact needs to be carefully considered as it will help to determine the types of paintball guns you need to stick with due to the air supply. Playing mostly at commercial paintball locations means you will have access to compressed air or CO2 needed to fire your paintball marker. This leads us to the second important consideration.

2. Consider Your Power Source

Most modern paintball markers or guns operate using one of two power sources, either carbon dioxide gas (CO2) or high pressure air (HPA). Depending on where you live and generally play your paintballing games, you may find it easier to obtain refills for your CO2 tank than for a HPA tank. It is extremely important that if your power supply is CO2, that you stick with paintball markers that are made for CO2! Since CO2 is a liquid gas, if it is used in a paintball marker designed for using only compressed air or HPA, the CO2 can seriously damage the gun beyond repair.

So if CO2 is going to be your power source of choice, then when looking at paintball guns for sale consider quality name brand paintball guns especially created to operate using CO2 such as the Spyder line of products which include models like the Spyder Victor, Xtra and Sonic, if you are on a tight budget. If you can afford the higher priced electronic models, then Spyder has ones such as the Spyder Pilot, Electra, VS1 and VS2. Yet another very popular maker of name brand CO2 paintball markers is Tippmann, especially if you like paintball guns with a military look. Popular Tippmann products include the Tippmann 98, A5 and the newer X7 series. Other well-known companies into the C02 paintball market include Smart Parts and Piranha. It should be noted that you can buy some models of paintball guns that will operate with either CO2 or HPA.

As already noted, there is a second source of power used with paintball guns,which is compressed air, known in paintballing circles as high pressure air (HPA). As a rule, the newer and more expensive breed of paintball markers use HPA, (which is more stable than CO2 resulting in better firing accuracy), and generally cost more than the traditional C02 models, sometimes as much as $2000. This helps to explain why there is such as wide range of pricing for paintball markers from less than $100 to several thousand of dollars. Popular name brand high end HPA markers include Bob Long and Dye paintball guns.

3. Consider What Features You Need

The biggest single determiner of price when you are looking at paint ball guns for sale is certainly the number of features that a paintball marker comes with. For example one basic feature is whether the marker is electronic or not. Electronic guns allow you to set firing modes via what is called an electronic trigger or “e-grip” so you can change the paintball marker from a single shot weapon with each pull of the trigger into 3-shot burst per trigger pull, or semi-auto, and finally full auto for continuous firing as long as the trigger is pulled and held. Obviously electronic markers are more expensive than non-electronic ones, and then you have the added expenses of the technology needed to allow your weapon to rapid fire such as anti-chop systems to prevent paintballs from breaking, auto-feed loaders or hoppers to hold the paintballs, and the list goes on and on. These added features are what drives up the prices very quickly when you are looking to buy paintball guns. So it is imperative that you only consider those paintball guns for sale that have just the features that you really need, especially if you are just a beginner. Why pay for addons that you do not need or will rarely use?

4. Consider Ease Of Maintenance

There is nothing more frustrating than to arrive at the paintball course all excited to play only to find your paintball marker is broken and you don’t have a clue how to fix it. Or perhaps even worse, your marker breaks down during a game and you are done for the day. So yet another important consideration when looking to buy paintball guns is your own personality type. Are you a “Mr. Fix-it” who loves to tear things apart and figure out how they work so you can fix them yourself? If not, then don’t consider any paint ball guns for sale that are very complex and complicated with lots of things that can go wrong! Sometime the more fancy features the paintball marker comes with means all the more that can go wrong. Therefore your personality type with respect to “doing it yourself” may help you determine what brands or models of paintball markers you should buy and not buy.

5. Consider Upgrade Potential

Some paintball markers, such as the popular Tippmann X7 series, are designed to be upgradeable which means as your playing skills improve you can make improvements to your gun as well. This is a really nice feature, especially if you develop a strong loyalty to your particular paintball model or company and don’t wish to change to something or someone different. Many players would rather spend extra money on upgrading their current paintball marker, that they are used to, than paying the same amount to purchase a new marker. Others report that frequently upgrading their paintball marker helps to keep the sport exciting, as you want to keep playing to see how your performance level changes due to the upgrades to your marker.

Advances in paintball technology in response to the rising popularity of this extreme sport means that there are more models and brands of paintball guns for sale than ever before. So it is more important than ever to do some serious thinking and research before making a decision to buy paintball guns, with so many choices now available. Making use of the information provided in this article, combined with some online research of paintballing websites will enable you to make an informed buying decision as to the best paint ball guns for your skill level, needs, and price range.

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A BB gun is a firearm that propels the round steel shots popularly called BBs. Although today the term BB refers to different kinds of pellets of varying sizes, weights and made from different materials, this was not always the case.

Does BB stand for Ball Bearing?

It is commonly believed that the term BB gun came into use because guns of this type used ball bearings as ammunition. If the ammunition was made of plastic, the term BB was assumed to denote ‘bullet ball’, but this is not exactly correct. Original BB guns used lead shots that were of the size commonly referred to as BB. This is where the term BB originated from. This shot was 0.180 inches in diameter but the size varied in accordance with the gun which was used to shoot it with. Although some of the first BB gun makers modified their gun barrels and produced specialised pellets of unique sizes, the name BB had grown to be so popular that it continued to be used in common parlance. Even today, these guns are called BB guns irrespective of whether they actually use BB sized pellets or not.

How are BBs Used

BBs generally come in steel and this material makes them ricochet much more lead or plastic pellets. Most BB gun enthusiasts use these round steel balls when they are practising their shooting in their own backyards. These ‘bullets’ are not considered the ideal ammunition when you want to hunt small game because they are not very accurate. You will find different varieties of guns such as electric airsoft guns, spring action airsoft guns and CO2 guns using BBs in various sizes. Electric airsoft guns (also called AEGs) are the most preferred ‘weapons’ of choice in shooting games and skirmishes.

Using BBs Safely

BBs can cause injuries when used carelessly and this makes it important for you to take special precautions when using your BB gun at home or outdoors. Since these shots have a higher tendency to ricochet off surfaces, you need to shoot them only at safe locations where this will not cause problems. Pellet traps that are available in the market to catch stray shots should be used if there is any chance of the shot hitting spectators or passersby. Make sure that the pellet trap you purchase is designed to stop BBs as there are many products in the market that are not equipped to stop a BB ricochet. Ensuring that you are following all possible safety measures with your BB gun shooting makes this sport an enjoyable experience for you and people around you.

Paintball guns came to be popular when people began embracing the game of Paintball. Those who love being one with nature and have an adventurous streak in their blood would really love the sport. Both men and women can participate in it and if you want to engage in the sports, you have to know the proper supplies to have and how you could take care of them properly.

Foremost among the gears that you need is of course the paintball gun. However, bear in mind that there are several kinds of guns in the market that are suited for different proficiency levels.

If you are already thinking of holding your first paintball gun, you should also think what will happen if it breaks down. If you want to keep paintball guns for a long time, you must know how to handle it and learning how to ask the opinions of experts is the first step.

If it is your first time engaging in the sport, you do not have to buy complicated models. Start by going with the basic guns, improving your choice as you gain mastery of Paintball. If you are wondering how you could determine what the right gun for you is, you could play a few paintball games first. This will give you an idea of what sort of gun is most comfortable for you in the field.

You could also try renting a gun first. This will allow you to know what particular model or features are most suited for you. As you go on playing the sport though, it would be best if you could have your own paintball gun too.

The cost of different paintball gun models varies. Although they tend to be expensive, you could find paintball guns that will fit your budget. Some basic types can only cost around $60.

Paintball can be very fun and challenging game for everyone that plays it. But when you first start you will need equipment for your paintball hobby. First off you need to get safe gear, then you need a paintball gun. You just can’t play paintball with out a paintball gun. For a novice player, your first thought is I will ask the guy at the store to help with picking out the gun. Sometimes the salesmen are in it for the money and will rob you blind, then again he may help but not know nothing about the sport. Most people need to experience any sport before really knowing the gear they need. Also knowing your personality and what you feel right with is another consideration. Before jumping into the purchase there is also budget to consider so how much paintball equipment can you afford.

A paintball gun will be a big investment most of the time. Some paintball guns run in the range of $1,000 range, having a price that you agree with in mind is the first step. Good for you , there are lot of great paintball guns with a much lower price. So you don’t have to take out a loan to get your first paintball gun.

First off you need to consider what style you want, cause you will not be in slower positions of the game for long. Soon your playing will be for speed and challenging, so keep that in mind for your first purchase. Usually you have buddies playing the game with you too. Always ask their advise also if they are experienced players.Most people love to talk about what their equipment is and how much they paid for it.

Next place to get ideas is reviews of equipment by players or professionals of the game in magazines or on the internet. So read some reviews of the different guns and equipment before your purchase. Get a feel for the price ranges your particular gun you like are selling at. If you can first try these guns out, do that too. You can also think about borrowing a gun from someone to get the feel of what you like or what a paintball actually does play and feel like.

Renting one could also be an option on one of the paintball fields to use that way you could get a feel for the game and some experience before your purchase. I think this is the most beneficial way to experiment with the different guns. Usually rentals are beginner models and some better models. Paintball is a fast paced action sport to get into. It is a physical game and strategy and common sense are great talents. Whether one is purchased outright, borrowed or rented, finding a gun that you are comfortable with is important. Make sure you understand the basics of the gun can make all the difference on how good you play in the fields.

There is more than one type of airsoft BB gun. Generally, most airsoft BB guns can be thought of as replicas: they are like “toy” counterparts of “real” firearms. The main types of of these guns are spring powered guns, electric airsoft guns, and gas powered guns.

Spring powered airsoft BB guns:

When you use one of these guns, you must manually cock it. When you cock it, a spring is compressed inside the piston, making an airtight seal when released. When the trigger is pulled, the piston is released, and a high pressure area is created behind the BB which projects it down the barrel and out toward the target. Spring powered airsoft BB guns must be cocked before every shot. They are generally less expensive than other airsoft replicas.

Electric airsoft BB guns:

These are the type of gun that you will most commonly see used in the sport. Unlike spring powered airsoft BB guns, the cocking action is automated in an electric airsoft BB gun. Generally, one of these guns will be powered by a rechargeable battery pack.

Gas powered airsoft BB guns:

To propel the BB, gas powered airsoft BB guns use… well… gas. Pressureized gas, stored in a liquid form in a chamber is released into the firing chamber where it expands a great deal in volume and propels the BB. A blowback gun is generally more expenive than a non-blowback one (a blowback airsoft BB gun is one in which the gas essentially blows back, after propelling the BB, to cycle the internal mechanism, resetting it for the next shot.) People like the blowback slide action on the gun, because this makes an airsoft pistol seem even more realistic.

Airsoft BB guns have become very popular since the days when they were very first introduced. This is because they are seen as a much safer, yet still accurate, counterpart to regular BB guns. Airsoft BB guns are even used in a sport similar to paintball, in which the BBs are shot at people!

The airsoft BBs are not made of metal like regular BBs. Rather, they are made of soft plastic that comes in many different colors. You should not try to reuse airsoft BBs (this is both dangerous, and it will degrade your gun.)

When buying airsoft BBs, look for biodegradeable ones. They will decompose in less than a year whereas traditional airsoft BBs can take around 5 years to decompose.

Airsoft BBs come in various weights. The lighter the BB, the further it will travel, but the less accurate it will be. The reverse is true of higher weight BBs. Therefore, most people tend to use airsoft BBs that are of .20 or .25 gram weights. These are a great combination of both accuracy and range.

Not long ago, there was a terrible shooting at a school in Connecticut. It was in an elementary school, and many of the kids killed were only six years of age, a terrible travesty and tragedy. How could something like that happen you ask? Many are now calling for stricter gun control laws. In fact the President of the United States of America is using this opportunity to put forth his personal agenda, and the agenda of the anti-gun groups to take away America’s right to own a gun. First, they might attempt to take away only the assault rifles, but eventually they will want all the guns just as they’ve done in other nations.

Speaking from the historical record, about the worst thing you can have happen is for a government to take away your gun, because that prevents them from worrying about more heavy-handed rules, laws, and regulations in the future. Our government already taxes us too much, tries to control our lives too much, and is attempting to be our lifelong nanny. People are becoming hopeless, and they’re relying on the government for far too many things. Have you noticed as socialism has crept in along with political correctness that far too many people have a severe case of low self-esteem?

Many now want to take away the guns of Americans, thinking it may help prevent these kinds of violent acts. But will it really, would that really work? It’s doubtful, because if they take away the guns, people will develop better crossbows, weapons which can fire multiple arrows very quickly and easy to reload. There many ways that a deranged killer can’t think of if they wish to cause a mass killing event. They could use knives, bows and arrows, or guns. If they don’t have guns, they might use poisons, derail a train, drive a truck into a building, or hijack a bus and drive it off a bridge.

If we are to take away the guns of Americans; then what? The next violent acts might be done with bows and arrows, so does that mean we have to stop the sport of archery? If we take away people’s guns does that mean we will no longer have target shooting in the Olympics? If we do take away the guns, archery sales will skyrocket the next day. But eventually they’ll come for those too.

That’s always how authoritarian regimes work. The more you give up, the more they will take, the more they will tax, and the more they will control your life until you don’t have any liberty, freedom, and forget trying to pursue happiness at that point. In fact, let me ask you a question; do you see my point yet?

Many people ask this question because they’re not sure which one to pick. To the inexperienced, they may seem exactly the same; a bunch of masked people running around shooting each other. However, that is not the case. Paintball and Airsoft are very different sports. To better explain the differences between paintball and airsoft, I have come up with a few sub-categories. They are; Uses, Upkeep, Cost, Tournaments, Pain, and Fun.

Uses: When choosing between Airsoft and Paintball, you must consider what your gun be used for. Airsoft guns can be used for just about anything. They can be used for target practice, backyard wars, shooting cans, tournament play and more. Also there are so many different types of Airsoft Guns to choose from to suit your specific needs. Paintball are mainly used for tournament play or playing on a specified field, but sometimes people use them for target practice. Airsoft is better for target practice though. Airsoft has more practical uses then Paintball so airsoft wins this round.

Upkeep: When choosing between Airsoft and Paintball, you must consider if you want to spend time maintaining your gun. In Paintball, you need to constantly clean your gun of paint so it doesn’t jam. You also may have to clean up the broken paintball shells if you are shooting in your backyard. You also, have to keep your paintballs in the freezer so they don’t melt. In Airsoft, there is less upkeep. All that you need to do is charge your battery if you are using an electric gun and clear the occasional jam. Since Airsoft has less upkeep, that’s another point for Airsoft.

Cost: Cost is an important factor in making your decision. You have to consider the gun costs, equipment costs, and ammunition costs. Paintball guns are generally more expensive than airsoft guns. For a quality gun, you must pay anywhere from 150-1200 dollars. In Airsoft there are many different types of guns to choose from with different price ranges. But, for a good electric gun you’ll probably pay 160 dollars plus. Next, comes equipment. If you want to play paintball, you will most likely be playing on a team. For team play you will need to buy a paintball uniform, mask, and extra hoppers which which will cost around 150 dollars. For airsoft, however, all you need is a mask unless you will be playing on a team. If you are going to play on a team you will need to buy a tactical vest, extra magazines, mask or helmet and shooting glasses, and maybe some grenades. Paintball ammunition is slightly more expensive than airsoft bbs so airsoft ammunition is cheaper. If you are not playing on a team, airsoft will be your cheapest option. However, It’s a tie between airsoft and paintball because they are about the same if you’re playing on a team.

Tournaments: Long story short, Paintball has so many more tournaments than airsoft. Paintball is a recognized team sport, and there are tons of professional tournaments all over the US. With Airsoft, there probably won’t be any organized events in your are and your team will probably need to host their own event. Paintball wins this category in a landslide victory.

Pain: If your goal is to inflict as much pain as possible, Paintball is your best bet. Even though paintball guns have a lower fps, but the paintball has a larger surface are transferring more energy on impact. in other words, it stings like crazy. Unless you have an airsoft gun with 400 FPS or over, you want a paintball gun. Another win for paintball.

Fun: Paintball can be fun, but airsoft is a game to play with your friends. In Airsoft you don’t have to play on a field. You can play anywhere. Whether it be a backyard showdown with friends or skirmishing that mean kid across the street. I have played both Airsoft and Paintball numerous times and even though paintball was fun, I have always loved airsoft. Airsoft takes this category.

OK lets see the final results… The final score is: Airsoft 4 Paintball 3. So Airsoft takes home the gold. Both these sports are enjoyable but I would recommend Airsoft.

The paintball marker is just another name for the paintball gun. The gun was not intended for the use in the paintball sport. This was probably around ten years after the development of the gun. In the early part of the 1970s, the need for the farmer to mark his livestock and for a way of the loggers to mark the trees had to be addressed. James Hale of the Daisy Manufacturing invented and patented what would become known as the first paintball marker. Charles Nelson was the inventor of the paint pellet to be used to shoot out of the marker. Made from an oil based paint, the marker was intended to stay for a long time. The original paintball game was played in the early 1980s.

With twelve participants in New Hampshire, the first ever game of capture the flag was played. It was not until 1985, that Robert G. Shepherd invented the first gun designed to play the sport of paintball. The Splatmaster was the talk of the gamers. The marker that is enclosed in a soft gelatin capsule was the brainchild of George A. Skogg, who was employed by the Nelson Paint Company. The technology of the soft capsules allowed the fluid to be highly visible and the accuracy was improved also. All of which was and is still important, but for a lot of people, the best result was the paint was easily washed away with a little water and detergent. Not only did this help the players with their personal laundry, it also made it easier for the landowners to allow paintball players on use their land knowing the paint was no longer long lasting. With the new guns or markers and the ease of cleaning the paint, the sport of paintball has evolved into a way of life for some of the players. The sport of paintball now a world wide game.

The low cost of the markers and the safety equipment has made for the sport to take on many different styles. The fields can be in someone’s backyard, a place in the woods, or even in a professional arena. The terrain can be just as diverse. The sand or snow will work. Some players have the opportunity to play in the ghost towns out west. The style of play also will vary. Although there are many of regulated and well defined games, sometimes the teams like to change or make up different rules. Even the teams can vary. One on one can be great and then the more the merrier is great fun also. There are professional teams that even show up on the sports channels. The accessories and the gear has also helped to make the sport safer and a lot more fun. From the different apparel and the variety of up grades that can be made on the paint markers, the game continues to help the player reach new and more interesting applications of the sport of paintball.

A few years ago I met Mr. Larry Piercy at a national shooting competition in Las Vegas. It was interesting to see the competitors relative to their styles, demeanor, and their varied backgrounds; not everyone was a military sharpshooter or law enforcement swat team member. In the past, the traditional hand-gun or rifle used in shooting competition fired a bullet from a powder loaded cartridge of a specific caliber. The primer in that cartridge ignites the gun powder and bang, you have a bullet traveling at 600-3,000 feet per second. (In Las Vegas which is near sea level, the speed of sound is about 1,126 feet per second.) But, like most sports, the cost of fun can be expensive and that applies to firearms also. But, today there are options if you want to be “fun challenged” without using firearms; enter the realm of the “air gun”.

Recently, Mr. Piercy came through Reno on a multi-state dealer development program for Precision Airgun Distribution of Gilbert, AZ and called me to get re-acquainted. As the National Dealer Sales Manager he is totally focused on making new believers and converts as to the future of air guns. First, I learned that air guns are not an upgrade to my old Red Ryder BB gun I got for Christmas when I was 6 years old; we are talking about some very serious backyard target practice/competition rifles/varmint eradicators/ hunting rifles and pistols.

Precision AirGun has put together a very professional approach to gun aficionado-rifle and pistol. At the same time they are showing, what otherwise might be gun adverse people, a new sport. A large van has been designed to display a wide sample of their air gun products; this is inclusive of video display monitors to explain the attributes of the sport.

There are approximately 100 manufacturers of such products from around the world and Mr. Piercy estimates there are thousands of these guns on the market in the U.S. of varying performance and capability. “As a general rule, air gun rounds come is four calibers – .177, .22, .25, .30 and .45,” said Piercy. “The 45 is referred to as a big bore rifle and these rifles are highly accurate to about 150 meters and they can kill a bear in the hands of a good shooter.”

I do not mean to imply that air guns are a new phenomenon; they have been around for approximately 500 years and actually preceded powder firearms. In fact, some believe they are more accurate than a conventionally fired cartridge rifle. Mr. Piercy goes on to say that some competitions in fact handicap the air gun competitors because of their accuracy. Remember, with an air gun the projectile is propelled out of the rifle/pistol by compressed air; there is no smoke from gun powder or a loud noise. There isn’t really traditional recoil when a pre-charged is fired.

Whether smaller bore pellets or the large bore .45 caliber style bullet/projectile, there are significant savings in cost of ammunition with these options versus conventional cartridge rounds. The most expensive round is approximately $0.16 each versus a .45 caliber conventional pistol round is $0.40 each.

There are many attributes to air guns versus conventional firearms when used for target practice, competition: (Home defense is not a primary use, although they can be used as such in a pinch.)

Firing the air gun is less expensive
They are highly accurate
No or significantly reduced noise when fired (the large bore rifle does have some noise)
No recoil in pre-charged models except for the very large bore models that are still recognized as minimal
Maintenance on air guns (such as cleaning) are minimal
The rifles look similar to conventional ammunition fired rifles
Ammunition is readily available-rounds can cost as little as $0.021 to $0.16 each
Most states have no governmental purchasing controls
Great way to get the family familiar with firearms
Air guns, depending on the quality and caliber, are very accurate at 150 meter range
Great option for hunting if long ranges are not a major consideration

The negatives of air guns:

Range could be perceived as a negative if a target is beyond 150 meters
Cost of rifle or pistol can be more expensive than a conventional firearm, but depends on quality
Ancillary equipment adds to start-up costs which can include an air tanks to recharge the compressed air cylinder used on some rifles and pistols

Getting started with an air gun requires the sportsman to determine how they intended to use the equipment: target practice, competition, family fun, hunting or maybe varmint control.

There are a plethora of choices. In the U.S. there are approximately 10 manufacturers (probably most are custom air gun makers), this includes Precision AirGun in Arizona which manufacture’s its own big bore while also importing high-end brands from England, Sweden and Germany. The starting point is to determine what technology air gun is best. There are basically 5 types that fire the pellet or round:

Pressure pumps-Requires multiple pump actions to fully charge
Single stroke-One pump charges up the pneumatic chamber
Pre-Charged system-A single charge from a tank (hand pump, scuba tank or compressor) into the rifles pressure chamber allow for multiple shots (estimated to be about 40-50)
Spring-Piston-A spring rams a cylinder into an air chamber to generate pneumatic pressure
CO2 gas cartridges-These cylinders of compressed CO2 have been around for many years. They are also used to carbonate water.

No matter the sizes or type of rifle/pistol you select, when it comes to accuracy and power/speed (measured by feet per second); you get what you pay for no matter the choice of ammunition.

Like a lot of things we buy, it’s the add-ons that can be a shock; air guns are no different. If I had a penchant for value to cost ratio analysis I would expect to pay approximately $300-400 for a great all around high-end air gun that delivers accuracy and firepower for most applications on my wish-list. Any of the above firing option systems for rifles or pistols (pre-charged system, spring, or single stroke) can deliver value, fun and usefulness for the individual or family outing. The scope seems to be a highly desirable option that exponentially improves the performance and thus fun for the user. A good scope, some specifically designed for these guns, can cost approximately $200. The actual model chosen may be determined by a user’s ultimate plan for their pistol or rifle choice.

Any rifle or pistol is not generally an impulse buy. So check out the product on-line first, go to dealers who sell air guns and talk to them about performances and price points, test fire a few and talk to owners who own air guns. Like most everything, even air gun designs are really all about the art of compromise and as a customer you may need to compromise on some lesser important features to realize the optimum air gun experience.

Steven S. Lay has been in the travel and corporate meetings business for 30 years and is now focused exclusively on small

The evolution of the game has been swift from its origins in the 70s to the modern game we know today. It all started with the paintball gun. The term “marker” is a much newer term introduced to make the sport more marketable to the masses. So, what is the history of this relatively new sport and how has it evolved over three decades?

The first paintball guns were used on cattle ranches in the 1970s to single out animals from the herd. James Hale, of Daisy manufacturing , invented a gun for this purpose.

This practice soon evolved into a game and the first ever recreational paintball game took place in June 1981 in New Hampshire, USA. A group of friends used Nel-Spot 007s to play a very basic form of the game over a massive area to capture the flag.

One of the earliest guns available was the Splat Master; it was made entirely of plastic. It could hold ten paintballs, was powered by small co2 cylinders and had a slow fire rate. The gun had to be tilted back to drop each paintball into the firing chamber and cocked by pushing a button on the handle.

The paintball game was first marketed by Charles Gaines, a writer, as National Survival Game- NSG. It started in a very primitive form with players working individually rather than in teams. As the game evolved over time, the rules became more sophisticated and teams became a matter of course. Different types of games sprung up, but the “capture the flag” principle was the most popular.

As the paintball game developed, so did the need for a more sophisticated gun. The pump action marker was introduced with its increased rate of fire.

Caleb Strong opened the first outdoor commercial paintball field in Rochester in 1982. Two years later he opened an indoor version in Buffalo. The development of the commercial industry allowed for more organized, tournament style games and interest in the sport accelerated. The games became more exciting as smaller fields made the action quicker.

The gun continued to evolve in line with the paintball game. As the need for speed increased, the introduction of the 12 ounce co2 tank with its constant air was a major breakthrough.This in turn led to the advent of the semi-automatic gun with its incredible fire rate. Then followed the electric hopper to cope with the fire power of the semi-automatics.

Private and commercial fields are everywhere today as the sport has attracted a huge following. Whilst most players will only ever compete at a recreational level, professional teams compete at a national and international level with prizes worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. The National Professional Paintball League was founded in 1992 and is the major force in the professional tournament circuit.

Professional players today are using fully automatic computerized markers. The Angel was the first of its kind. It was equipped with a motherboard in the gun’s handle offering a selection of different modes of fire.

There is no reason to believe that the paintball game has completed its evolution. It has come a long way from the cattle ranches of thirty years ago, but it is fair to assume that the sport has not finished its journey just yet.