Paintball Laser Sight

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 organised, 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.

Hawksbill PaintballHawksbill Sports was established by players, for players. Our goal is to give you the products you need to enjoy the sport of paintball. We have low prices and fast shipping and promise the best customer service you can find anywhere. For more information about paintball guns and other accessories, go to:http://www.hawksbillpaintball.com

It is difficult to write a definitive set of paintball rules. There are many different branches of the sport and many different levels. Paintball can be played at a recreational level for a bit of fun with like-minded friends. Alternatively it can be on a more formal footing at commercial fields, or professional play at tournament level. There are the recreational options of woodsball, scenario and tactical paintball or the speedball option. However, underscoring all of these is the basic concept of the game and some established common features.

Paintball rules dictate that there are two teams, divided equally. A team generally has between five to ten players, one of whom may be captain. One person is chosen as a referee. The referee oversees the game, controls the time and scoring, mediates between players and ensures the agreed rules are being followed. His decision is final and unarguable.

Each team is set out onto either side of a “field”; a space with predetermined boundaries and      obstacles ,depending on the type of game being played. The overall objective is for a team to reach the other side of the field to capture the flag. Most games run for an average of 45 minutes. The referee starts, and ends the game with a whistle at a prearranged time.

Paintball rules specify that whichever team is first to capture the flag is the winner.Should time run out before the flag is captured, the team with the most players remaining wins. Alternatively, a point system game may be played, with different scores for different achievements.

A player is eliminated if he is hit by a paintball, from either team, and it breaks on him or any part of his gear. If a paintball strikes a player without breaking, or if it first strikes a foreign object, such as a tree, and subsequently splatters the player, the player remains in the game. When a player has been marked, he must call “OUT”, hold the gun over his head and leave the field immediately. The player must not return to the field for the duration of the game. The referee can pause the game at any point for a “paint check” to clear up any uncertainties.During pause of play all players must remain in their positions.

Paintball rules stipulate that only one player can guard the flag at any time. Players are not allowed to pick up barricades and move behind them, nor use mobile shields such as eliminated players leaving the field. All players must understand where the boundaries are. A player is eliminated if he moves outside the boundary and shots fired from beyond the boundaries do not count.

Many paintball rules are concerned with safety. Paintball is a non-contact sport and physical interaction is not permitted. It is forbidden to fire at an eliminated player leaving the field, or at any player holding the gun above his head. It is also against the rules to shoot from a distance of under 5 meters. A paintball can travel at up to 300 feet per second and can cause serious injury if fired at close range. Players should keep a distance of 5 meters between them throughout the game. It is advisable to wear protective goggles or a mask at all times during the game. Likewise, long pants and sleeves, at the very least, should be worn for added protection during play.

There are a wide variety of paintball rules depending on the type of game or level at which you are playing. Some rules have been established to keep the game moving and prevent conflict; others to increase the safety of the players. Whatever variation of rules you are playing to, it’s important that all the team players are in accord before the start of each game for maximum enjoyment and safety.

Hawksbill PaintballHawksbill Sports was established by players, for players. Our goal is to give you the products you need to enjoy the sport of paintball. We have low prices and fast shipping and promise the best customer service you can find anywhere. http://www.hawksbillpaintball.com

While one should never sacrifice value over the quality of paintball safety equipment, paintball guns are available today at reasonable prices and with a wide variety of interesting features.

When deciding which the best paintball gun is for you, be realistic and determine your “skill level”. When just beginning, and do not know the frequency of your play, begin with an inexpensive gun.

To decide which features you need in a paintball gun, you can borrow markers from your friends and try them on different paintball fields. After you have decided on the features you want then start shopping for your gun.

When playing for recreation, there is really no need to spend a great deal of money as there are many recreational guns of good quality that are not expensive. Note that there are also several poor quality markers on the market so you need to your research before you buy to make certain that the marker that you purchase is dependable and can be upgraded.

When you are making plans to play in tournaments, determine what type of tournament that you will be entering. If you are going to play in small tournaments you may use a less expensive marker or upgrade your old one.

However, in the larger tournaments, you will need an “electro-pneumatic” or a “blow-forward” gun, which costs a minimum of $350.

The cost of markers depends primarily on the gun’s pressure system as well as its accessories. The most popular system today is the “carbon dioxide pressure system” normally used in the less expensive markers.

The primary disadvantage is that usually the carbon dioxide’s performance is influenced by the temperature outside, and changes from its gas state to liquid resulting in velocity instability that affects its shooting accuracy.

Serious paintball players use the “high-pressure air and nitrogen system” markers that are much more accurate because the nitrogen will never liquefy. Having this characteristic, these markers are more expensive.

Extra accessories also increase the cost of your marker. A loader or hopper is a very popular accessory. It is a container that feeds paintballs into the gun. Hoppers are available in many varieties – some are powered and automated. Fast and lightweight hoppers are more expensive.

Just keep in mind that the any marker that you purchase will not be perfect and will ultimately have flaws. So when purchasing your marker, always double check the choices offered and purchase a gun only if you know what you really want.