| To many paintball players, buying a paintball gun can be | | | | gun only control the speed at which the sear is tripped |
| like buying a car. Each paintball gun has its own unique | | | | (the ROF), or firing modes. Sear trippers often take |
| features, some fire 3 shot bursts, and some can even | | | | 12vlt batteries, which are located in the grip frame. |
| play ringtones. It can be a challenging process to buy a | | | | Electronic eyes are now available on many sear |
| paintball gun, and many of us out there just want to | | | | trippers, which can dramatically reduce the chopping of |
| get one right away and start playing. So for those of | | | | paint (something that these guns are known for). |
| you that are a little confused about the many types of | | | | 3. FULLY ELECTRONIC - These are the Egos, smart |
| paintball guns out there, let me break it down for you. | | | | parts Ions, and BKOs of paintball guns. They are |
| Paintball guns can be divided into 3 different | | | | entirely electronic, meaning that the electronic trigger |
| categories... | | | | operates the solenoid which in turn fires the paintball |
| 1. ALL MECHANICAL - These are the notorious | | | | marker. Air regulation are key on these types of |
| Tippmann 98's and Spyder Shutters you hear so much | | | | paintball markers, if the PSI is set too high problems will |
| about. Other markers in this category include many | | | | occur. Fully electronic paintball markers often take 12vlt |
| autocockers, automags, and BT's. All mechanical | | | | batteries, and can fire at more consistent velocities |
| markers operate solely on spring and air, which means | | | | speed than sear trippers. Most fully electronic paintball |
| they do not use batteries or have any electronic parts | | | | markers come with electronic eyes, which keep the |
| in them. Usually they come in stacked tube design (i.e. | | | | gun from firing if a paintball is not fully present in the |
| spyders and spyder clones), or single tube (i.e. | | | | breech. |
| tippmanns). Velocity on these types of markers is | | | | Each type of paintball gun has its own advantages, |
| adjusted by either restricting the flow of air, or by | | | | which often is the level of work needed to maintain it. |
| adjusting spring tension. | | | | One thing you will find is that most players start with |
| 2. SEAR TRIPPER - Sear trippers are paintball guns | | | | mechanical markers and work their way up. Some |
| that have electronic triggers that literally "trip" the sear | | | | new players jump the gun and purchase fully electronic |
| for you. The electronics are only located in the grip of | | | | markers, which is ill advised. They often end up $700 |
| the paintball marker, and do not regulate air pressure | | | | short and with a marker that they know nothing about. |
| or velocity. Velocity is still adjusted by regulating air | | | | So be smart with your purchase, and buy according to |
| flow or adjusting spring tension, the electronics in the | | | | your experience and how often you intend to play. |