| A paintball marker, also commonly called | | | | tournament-grade markers; however, they |
| a paintball gun, is the primary device | | | | are becoming more popular among casual |
| used in the game of paintball to mark an | | | | players. |
| opposing player. An expanding gas | | | | HPA is also known as Nitrogen, nitro, or |
| (usually carbon dioxide, nitrogen or | | | | N2. The reason for the varying name |
| air) forces a paintball through a barrel | | | | difference is because in the late 80's |
| at a muzzle velocity of approximately | | | | and early 90's, Tom Kaye and Team Nitro |
| 300ft/s (100m/s). This velocity is | | | | utilized large 114 cubic inch tanks on |
| sufficient for most paintballs to break | | | | their back. This was the first team to |
| upon impact, but not fast enough to | | | | use nitrogen in a paintball setting. The |
| cause tissue damage beyond mild | | | | gas they used was 100% nitrogen, which |
| bruising. Nearly every commercial field | | | | is very rare today. The reason for this |
| has, and strictly enforces, a rule | | | | is that air compressors capable of |
| limiting the muzzle velocity of a | | | | filling tanks to the required 3000+ PSI |
| paintball at or below 300ft /s. Being | | | | are more common. HPA tanks can be filled |
| hit in an eye by a paintball can result | | | | with nitrogen or compressed air, but can |
| in permanent blindness or vision | | | | NOT be filled with CO2. It is also a |
| impairment, thus the universal rule that | | | | common misconception that paintball |
| paintball participants must wear a | | | | markers use Nitrous Oxide |
| protective goggle system designed | | | | (N2O,"Nitrous", "NOS"), or NO2. Neither |
| specifically for paintball use. | | | | of these are used in paintball pneumatic |
| The majority of modern paintball markers | | | | systems. |
| are semi-automatic, falling under the | | | | HPA is also preferred because it makes |
| classification of either "open" or | | | | easy for the frequent players to fill |
| "closed" bolt firing positions, relying | | | | the air system from a conventional scuba |
| on one of 3 major design structures. The | | | | tank. Also, many players believe that |
| first is a gas blowback design whereby | | | | using N2 instead of HPA reduces the |
| the trigger releases a hammer which | | | | corrosion caused to the marker by |
| sends the bolt forward and | | | | oxidation from the Oxygen in the HPA.. |
| simultaneously knocks open a valve | | | | Comparison Nitrogen is generally |
| releasing gas to fire the paintball as | | | | preferred over carbon dioxide for a few |
| well as recock the marker. Autococking | | | | reasons. |
| markers use a complicated gas pneumatic | | | | Nitrogen will not liquefy and leak into |
| system to drive a cocking knob back | | | | the marker, while if the CO2 tank |
| AFTER firing, allowing the marker to | | | | doesn't have an anti-siphon installed, |
| fire in a "closed-bolt" format. The | | | | liquid CO2 will leak into the marker, |
| third and most advanced type of | | | | causing damage to O-rings. The solenoids |
| semi-auto paintball marker is the | | | | on electronic markers are particularly |
| electropneumatic. Here, the trigger | | | | sensitive to this, and thus many |
| trips an electronic microswitch (or more | | | | manufacturers will specify to use only |
| recently, a laser) and information is | | | | nitrogen or HPA with their electronic |
| passed to a computer controlled solenoid | | | | markers. Nitrogen generally has a more |
| which releases the propellant to drive | | | | consistent shot than CO2. This is |
| the bolt forward and fire the paintball, | | | | because when the playing area is warm, |
| again simultaneously, most often from | | | | the CO2 will expand more rapidly from |
| the "open-bolt" position. This | | | | the liquid form, causing the marker to |
| microswitch operation makes the trigger | | | | fire at a higher velocity. But when the |
| pull very light, and allows for extreme | | | | temperature is lower, the expansion |
| rates of fire. These markers are the | | | | occurs more slowly, causing a decrease |
| most expensive (usually) and advanced of | | | | in the velocity of the shot. This is |
| the 3 types and are generally used for | | | | especially apparent during rapid firing |
| tournament play where rates of fire can | | | | while using CO2. The rapid discharge of |
| reach and exceed 25 balls per second. | | | | CO2 causes the temperature of the liquid |
| There is, also, a strong following of | | | | CO2 to drop dramatically, resulting in a |
| stock-class and "pump" players who use | | | | significant loss in pressure. The effect |
| markers with a purposefully low rate of | | | | of temperature on HPA or nitrogen, on |
| fire and ammo capacity. Pump guns use a | | | | the other hand, is negligible. However, |
| mostly self explanatory format, forcing | | | | CO2 tanks are significantly cheaper than |
| the player to slide a pump back and | | | | nitrogen tanks. The nitrogen tanks |
| forth to load each shot before firing. | | | | traditionally cost slightly less to be |
| Stock-class guns are essentially the | | | | filled, than the CO2 tanks at |
| same, with a few extra restrictions. | | | | approximately three to five US dollars. |
| They are exclusively pump-action | | | | Masks Sometimes called "goggles," masks |
| paintball guns powered by 12-gram CO2 | | | | are safety devices that players are |
| cartridges. | | | | required to wear. These completely cover |
| Also, stock class markers have only a 10 | | | | not only the eyes, but also the mouth, |
| to 20 round ammo tube that is not spring | | | | ears and nostrils of a person. Some |
| loaded and must be fixed to the marker, | | | | masks even feature throat guards. The |
| parallel to the barrel. This leads to | | | | lenses are designed to stop paintballs |
| what is known as the "Rock and Cock" | | | | traveling around or under 300ft/s (~100m |
| action, because a player needs to rock | | | | s). It should be noted, however, that |
| the marker back for a ball to drop into | | | | the lenses are not designed to withstand |
| the chamber before recocking the marker. | | | | impacts of paintballs traveling at |
| The last type of marker is a sidearm, | | | | vastly greater speeds. |
| usually a pistol, that uses a CO2 | | | | Double-layered or "thermal" lenses are |
| cartridge to power it. These are usually | | | | also available. These lenses are much |
| either pump or semi-automatic but have a | | | | less prone to fogging. These work by |
| 8-12 round magazine attached somewhere | | | | separating an inside and an outside lens |
| on the gun. The usage of paintball | | | | with an air chamber, that allows for the |
| sidearms is greatly conversed among | | | | difference in temperature between the |
| paintballers. | | | | inside and the outside of the mask |
| Some argue that the usage of a sidearm | | | | without forming condensation. |
| in paintball is pointless saying its "a | | | | The exterior of the thermal lenses (or |
| $100 pod". Others argue that it is | | | | the lenses, in non-thermal masks) is |
| priceless on the battlefield as your | | | | usually made of Polycarbonate or |
| main marker can jam or run out of CO2. | | | | Lexan®. |
| Some markers are designed to look like | | | | This provides impact resistance. An |
| real guns, and as such are called | | | | unfortunate side effect is that those |
| mil-sim, short for military simulation. | | | | materials are very easily scratched by |
| These are used almost exclusively in | | | | dirt and debris, so care must be taken |
| woodsball games, as they are clunkier | | | | to keep proper care of the lenses. Many |
| than most high-end speedball markers, | | | | vendors recommend the immediate |
| but they are painted camo or black in | | | | replacement of very scratched lenses, or |
| order to blend in with foliage or shadow | | | | lenses subjected to very strong impacts. |
| better than a flashy marker. Some use | | | | Some masks include electric fans that |
| hoppers, though some use magazines | | | | cool the player's face while wearing it. |
| similar to real-life automatic weapons. | | | | This is useful for situations that |
| Many come with a shoulder stock in order | | | | require wearing the mask for extended |
| to follow the mil-sim look. | | | | periods of time, such as wood play, |
| Propellants Carbon dioxide Because CO2 | | | | large games, or being a referee. |
| becomes a liquid when compressed, it | | | | Generally, more expensive masks tend to |
| must expand to a gas in order to be used | | | | be smaller (which in turn makes the |
| by the paintball marker. | | | | player a smaller target), more |
| This expansion is not adiabatic and | | | | comfortable, and have more |
| requires energy, causing the tank to | | | | interchangeable parts. |
| cool as heat is used to expand the | | | | Hoppers/Loaders These are the two main |
| liquid CO2 into gas. Eventually, under | | | | forms of holding paintballs in direct |
| sustained fire, and especially in cold | | | | reserve for the marker to fire, much the |
| weather, the tank can become so cold | | | | same way as a clip will hold rounds for |
| that ice crystals form on it. If the CO2 | | | | a rifle. These two types of providing |
| bottle does not have an anti-siphon tube | | | | ammuntion for the marker are much the |
| fitted, or is shaken while firing, the | | | | same as one another, with only a few key |
| liquid CO2 may enter the marker. The | | | | differences. |
| liquid CO2 then passes through the | | | | Hoppers are the older and less advanced |
| marker instead of the tank, evaporating | | | | means of supplying paint to the marker. |
| and causing the marker to freeze. This | | | | The most basic and common is a simple |
| results in large clouds of CO2 vapor | | | | black shell with a hinged lid on the |
| ejected from the marker upon firing, | | | | back so the hopper can be filled, and a |
| caused by the liquid CO2 evaporating in | | | | necked down area which slides down into |
| around the barrel. | | | | the markers "feedneck" and is just wide |
| This is known as "drawing liquid". This | | | | enough for one ball at a time to fall |
| can and will cause damage to internal | | | | through. Some of these hoppers include |
| seals and O-Rings, which will put the | | | | some form of battery powered "agitation" |
| marker out of commission for some time | | | | to keep the mouth of the hoppers |
| while it warms back up. Never leave a | | | | feedneck from becoming clogged with |
| CO2 container in sunlight, as the heat | | | | balls so that there is always a supply |
| will cause the gas to expand to a | | | | of paintballs into the feedneck. The key |
| dangerous level. The tanks include | | | | distinction for a hopper is eventually |
| safety valves in their construction, but | | | | it relies solely on gravity to get a |
| there is no need to use them or take | | | | ball into the chamber Loaders are |
| unnecessary risks. | | | | similar to hoppers, but all use some |
| With normal back-bottle setups (or, air | | | | sort of electronic or mechanical means |
| systems utilizing a horizontal air | | | | of forcing or agigtating paintballs into |
| source adapter, more commonly called an | | | | the feedneck, and down into the chamber, |
| ASA), the less dense gaseous CO2 will | | | | resulting in a much faster and more |
| rise to the top half of the tank. | | | | steady supply of ammunition to the |
| Normally, ASA's are angled with very | | | | marker. These are generally found more |
| slight angles so the gaseous CO2 is | | | | often in tournament settings paired with |
| always available at the valve of the | | | | electropneumatic markers to achieve the |
| tank. Special devices known as | | | | extremely high rates of fire used to |
| anti-siphon tubes extend the mouth of | | | | suppress the opposition. |
| the valve, and provide only CO2 from the | | | | Paintballs Paintballs, also called |
| top part of the tank. | | | | simply paint, are spherical gelatin |
| During rapid successions of shots, | | | | capsules containing primarily |
| gaseous CO2 is used up. Liquid CO2 will | | | | polyethylene glycol and dye. |
| take some time to evaporate and rebuild | | | | Early paintballs were made of glass and |
| the internal pressure. This process | | | | filled with indelible oil-based paint, |
| causes potentially large changes in | | | | but modern paintballs should easily wash |
| velocity and therefore, in accuracy and | | | | out of most clothing and cause |
| range. | | | | significantly less pain on impact. |
| High Pressure Air or N2 When HPA (High | | | | Most common paintballs and paintball |
| Pressure Air) is compressed, it remains | | | | markers are described as .68 caliber. |
| a gas. When it expands, it also cools | | | | However many factors affect their exact |
| the tank, but at a far lower rate than | | | | dimensions. The vast majority of |
| liquid CO2 because it does not have to | | | | paintballs are larger than .68 caliber |
| transition from liquid to gas. The lack | | | | and may in fact meet or exceed .69 |
| of this transition, reduces the | | | | caliber. In addition, paintballs are |
| variation in pressure associated with | | | | very sensitive to heat and moisture. A |
| rapid successions of firing cycles, | | | | hot or humid day may result in paint |
| improving accuracy. Therefore it is | | | | swelling or becoming misshapen. Care |
| viewed as a superior source of | | | | should be taken to keep paintballs out |
| propulsion. | | | | of the sun and away from moisture. An |
| However, because these propellants are | | | | insulated cooler works well for this on |
| stored at higher pressures (up to 5000 | | | | the field. |
| lb /in2 or 34.47 MPa) while liquid CO2 | | | | Generally speaking, more expensive |
| is stored at around 1200 lb/in2 (eight | | | | paintballs are subjected to more |
| MPa), tanks for nitrogen and HPA are | | | | stringent manufacturing processes and |
| more expensive and heavier. Modern | | | | quality checks, to their size is more |
| designs are usually wrapped in carbon | | | | consistent. This is very important for |
| fiber or other composite materials, to | | | | accuracy. More expensive paintballs also |
| allow for thinner walls (thus, lighter | | | | tend to have higher quality fills and |
| weights) while withstanding the greater | | | | more brittle shells to lessen the chance |
| pressure. | | | | of bounces, and improve chance of break, |
| The tanks for themselves can either be | | | | and therefore "kills" SWAT teams often |
| filled with pure N2 or compressed air, | | | | use paintballs filled with a pepper |
| which is 79% N2. These air sources have | | | | substance (known as a pepper ball) as a |
| traditionally been used primarily by | | | | non-lethal incapacitation method. |
| people who play often and have | | | | |