| Paintball is a widely popular recreational/sporting | | | | "intense", there are many, high-quality paintball guns |
| activity. Often played in teams, it is as close to a real | | | | from which to choose. Stylistically, they can range |
| military-style combat experience as you can get | | | | from very streamlined and futuristic-like to those that |
| without using live rounds. And of course, paintball just | | | | mimic the look and feel of real military hardware. |
| wouldn't be the same without the use of paintball guns. | | | | Features can include everything from fully automatic |
| Commonly called "markers", paintball guns use | | | | firing operation to telescopic sites and ultra-lightweight |
| compressed gas as the primary means of firing. | | | | construction materials. However, it is important to |
| Simply stated, when the trigger is pulled the inside | | | | remember that these markers can be quite expensive, |
| mechanism allows a short, powerful burst of gas to be | | | | with many costing well over a thousand dollars. |
| released from a disposable metal cartridge. This burst | | | | Paintball markers can be purchased through numerous |
| of gas then launches the paintball out of the barrel and | | | | sources. Large-scale sporting goods stores often |
| towards its intended target. How fast this can be done | | | | carry a variety of paintball gear, including guns. |
| depends on the particular gun; with some being single | | | | However, because these stores are usually |
| shot mechanisms, some being semi-automatic, and in | | | | "generalists" when it comes to sports equipment, they |
| some cases fully automatic. | | | | often only carry the most basic models. If you're |
| Paintball markers are available in many different | | | | looking to purchase higher-end equipment, the internet |
| configurations, styles and capabilities. The most basic | | | | is your best bet. There are a host of online retailers |
| models are often designed as slightly oversized pistols | | | | that specialize in the latest in paintball guns, and some |
| and can usually be purchased for less than 200 dollars. | | | | of these retailers will have dozens of different guns |
| These less expensive guns are what most beginners | | | | from which to choose. These online sources are also |
| start out with, but those that become avid enthusiasts | | | | commonly the least expensive way to find a quality |
| almost always upgrade their marker at some point. | | | | paintball marker. |
| For those that are looking for something a bit more | | | | |