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Paintball Guns Info Center > How To Buy Paintball Gear
How To Buy Paintball Gear
http://www.ballystore.com/info/index.jsp?categoryId=222880
 The
sport of paintball has come a long way since its infancy in the
mid-70s. Today, you have a number of options to consider in buying
the gear that suits your skill level and usage. A good starting
point in selecting the gun -or "marker" as the sport prefers
to call it - along with a variety of safety equipment, paintballs
and accessories.
How to buy a Marker/Gun
· Determine your skill level
· Determine your usage
· Determine the right pressure systems
Carbon dioxide
High-pressure air
Choosing the right accessories
· Protective gear
· Vest
· Pads
· Eye protection
· How to buy paint
· Diameter
· Color
· Freshness
How to buy a Marker/Gun
Determine your skill level.
The marker you need is really dependent on your skill.
· Beginner or casual player
· Look for a less-expensive small marker
· You can upgrade your marker as your skill level and requirements
increase
· Serious recreational player
· Look for markers with more features, including automatic
firing
· You can always upgrade your marker as your skill level
and requirements increase
· Tournament player
· Your marker should be purchased to fit the position you
are most likely to play: front, cover, or utility
Determine your usage
Serious recreational or tournament players need to look for a marker
that suits their position.
Front players
· Speed, weight and size are critical since your main goal
is to draw fire vs. shooting
· If you don't want to mount your air supply on your marker,
you can purchase a remote air hose to decrease weight and to increase
your mobility
· When you do shoot, accuracy is a must, so find a marker
that allows you to mount the air supply bottle so it can be used
as a stock
· Cover players
· You'll be shooting lots of rounds so choose a large air
supply bottle remote system
· You will want system that allows you to load and unload
the bottle quickly
Utility players
· You need both mobility and capacity
· Buy a large air supply bottle and mount it on the gun
Determine the right pressure systems:
Pressure, or propulsion, systems give your marker the air it needs
to propel a paintball. All tanks are shipped unfilled because of
shipping restrictions. Two styles are offered:
Carbon dioxide
· The most common pressure system
· The tank size determines the rounds that you will be able
to shoot
· The main drawback is that carbon dioxide can be either
a liquid, gas or both, depending on temperatures, especially when
they dip below 50F. This causes fluctuations in velocities and therefore
in shooting accuracy.
· For most recreational players, this system is more safe
and reliable. Plus, most fields offer stations to readily fill your
carbon dioxide tanks.
High-pressure air (HPA)and nitrogen systems
· These always operate as a gas so your marker doesn't fall
prey to changing velocities
· This then further ensures accuracy. If you are serious
about the sport, consider this option.
· Some fields, though, may not be able to fill your system
so check before buying
Choosing the right accessories
Once you decide on a marker and air system, you need to consider
a number of accessories.
Hopper
· A hopper is a plastic inverted bottle or stick that holds
your paintballs and gravity usually feeds them into your marker
· You can also buy a motorized hopper, which should be considered
if you need to shoot rapidly
· Hoppers come in a variety of shapes and sizes, holding
from 40 to 300 paintballs
· Mobility and weight become a factor in selecting the hopper
that meets your needs and playing ability
Air Supply
· If you don't want to mount your air supply on your marker,
you can purchase a remote air hose to decrease weight and to increase
your mobility. This is recommended especially for upfront players.
· This long tube allows you to then carry your tank on a
backpack or belt
· Belt pack
· A belt pack holds your supplies, primarily extra paint
and loaders
· The amount of ammo it can hold varies
Squeegee
· A squeegee keeps your gun barrel clean
· You can purchase either a stick squeegee or a pull-through
· Both work well, but make sure the system you buy works
on your gun's barrel
· A squeegee holder is also recommended so that you will
always have it on you
Sight/Scope
· A sight or a scope will slightly improve accuracy
· These work in helping you determine where your paint will
go under varying conditions
Barrels
· Many markers are sold with a stock barrel that can be changed
· If you want to buy an extra barrel, consider several factors
Low-pressure systems can use longer barrels
Length improves accuracy, but the barrel should be matched to the
paint you are shooting-small, medium, or large. Most use .68
Materials provide a weight difference. If you need mobility, a lighter
barrel may be just the thing for you.
Protective gear
Vest
· Provides protection in the critically sensitive areas,
including your kidneys, heart and back
Pads
· Elbow, knee, and shin pads preserve those areas that get
roughed up when you're sliding, crawling, falling, or getting hit
in sensitive areas
· Gloves are another good investment
Eye protection
· Paintball goggles aren't an option; these are a must
· Don't try to save a few bucks by wearing ski goggles or
sunglasses
· Paintball goggles are designed to withstand the impact
of a paintball, and give you front, top, and side protection
· These goggles are also designed to increase your peripheral
vision, giving you a wider field of vision
· Most also come with face shields and eye armor to further
protect you. These cover the forehead, ears and jaw. Full masks
are also available.
How to buy paint
The outside of a paintball is a gelatin, with the paint inside.
The gelatin has to be tough enough to fire through your marker but
soft enough to break when hitting your target. While paintballs
used to be oil-based, today's water-soluble replacements make clean
up a whole lot easier.
Diameter
Paintballs come in several sizes: .50, .62, .63, .68 and .72 caliber
When selecting paintballs, make sure it meets the specifications
for your barrel diameter
Color
· Paintballs are biodegradable and non-toxic
· Non-toxic dyes are used to provide color
· The color you select should be determined by playing conditions
You may want a bright color in densely wooded areas so you can see
where your paintballs are hitting
Freshness
· Age and humidity are the two biggest enemies of paintballs
· Keep a fresh supply and store them in a cool, dry place
· Never use dirty paint balls. They can harm the barrel or
prematurely explode and clog the gun.
Wooden
Canes
Oak, cedar, pine, maple, teak, ash, cherry, you name a type of wooden cane and
walking canes .net will have it.
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