ChoicePaintballGuns

After watching and being involved in paintball for over 7 years, I’ve watched the sport grow and advance.  I guess you could say I’m a purist and I dream of advancing paintball technology so the game becomes as close to real war as possible.  Imagine how real the game will be when everyone on the field is using military replica tactical paintball guns fueled by a hidden air tank and loaded through magazines.  Actually, with paintball guns from RAP4 and MilSig, I’ve found out that this is not that far from reality.  In fact the T68 gen6 by rap4 is so close to the real thing it’s scary.  These guns are not only magazine fed, but the flexi-air systems are ultra cool - this is what allows you to hide your air tank inside the buttstock -  it’s by far one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen.   It’s also amazing how many different options there are to choose regarding what type of weapon you want…. There are multiple snipers, CQB, AK47 and carbine combination packages available; seriously there’s like 60+ different customized T68 guns to choose from.  If you want to take your tactical game to the next level of realism, get a T68 and I’ll meet you on the battlefield!  This gun is transforming the sport of paintball!  
Matt Kresch,  Team Trinity

What should I look for in a paintball starter package for my two grandsons?  What should it include?  They are 12 and 8 respectively.  Since they are new to the game, what would be best suited for that age bracket and their skill level?

In the celebrated baseball movie “Field of Dreams,” Kevin Costner’s character is often reminded that “if you build it, they will come.” Creating a usable baseball diamond in his backyard seems as simple as a bit of planning and elbow grease. Unfortunately, building a paintball field requires a lot of work and forethought. Some of the logistics – such as bunker building, insurance coverage and referees – might not be immediately obvious.

Even after the field is built from the ground up, you’ll have to resist the urge to pick up your tactical paintball guns. Safety remains the overriding concern, and the games shouldn’t begin until you’ve established a secure perimeter. Post “no trespassing” signs around the boundaries of the field to prevent unfortunate mishaps. Seek out referees who are experienced at judging games of paintball and who are familiar with the safety guidelines as well.

Paintball could be described as a trial by fire. When live rounds of paint are coming at you from every angle, you’re forced to make quick decisions and execute them in a timely fashion. Beginners make critical mistakes initially, but they soon learn from them or lose interest in the game. One of the most common mistakes a paintball rookie will make involves communication. Good teams keep an open line of communication at all times on the playing field. When you’re playing outdoors, don’t be afraid to shout orders or warnings to a teammate. The only time you really need to button up is when you’re hidden with an enemy bearing down with military paintball guns in close proximity. Aside from that, you and the rest of your team should be keeping each other abreast of the enemy’s whereabouts.

We are excited about the upcoming release of the X7 Phenom, a next-generation .68 caliber paintball marker that’s truly in a class of its own. This gun will be released for sale on ChoicePaintballGuns.com by mid-November. The unmatched benefits of this new electro pneumatic marker include improved air efficiency, superior accuracy, manual or electronic firing and the flexibility to use either CO2 or compressed air. The heart of the Phenom is Tippmann’s patented FlexValve™ Technology, a brand new technology that is not available on any other paintball marker. The FlexValve operates below 300 PSI for improved air efficiency, giving players more than 1,400 shots from a single 68 cubic-inch, 4500 PSI tank. Also, with its Spool Valve Design, recoil is virtually eliminated for significantly-enhanced accuracy. The design of the Phenom also incorporates fewer wear parts, making maintenance easier than ever and breakdown rare. Even though the Phenom is three inches shorter than the standard X7, it will still accept more than 20 current X7 mods and upgrades, including the popular Flatline Barrel. 

Other features of the X7 Phenom include:
·         New compact and lightweight aluminum body
·         Streamlined design with internal gasline and no cocking handle
·         Pushpin construction for easy field stripping
·         All-metal trigger for enhanced stability
·         Magnetically activated hall effect electronics
·         Redesigned Cyclone Feed System paddles that feed up to 20 balls-per-      second without batteries
·         Picatinny top rail to easily add new sights and handles
·         Air-thru stock compatibility
·         Internal regulator with new external-velocity adjustment
·         9.5” high performance stone-honed barrel
·         Removable rear and front sights
·         2-Year Warranty
·         Made in the U.S.A.

If your paintball marker chops your paintballs, stop what you are doing right away and clean it out.  Clean your gun thoroughly where the ball broke.  Clean the bolt, bolt face and the marker barrel.  Make sure to clean out all of the paint as well as the film, shell bits, and any other debris that does not belong there.  If you continue to chop paintballs, take the gun apart and check for damage.  Completely disassemble the marker, and check out the bolt face for burs, nicks, chips, and other damage.  If you have found any damage to the bolt face or o-rings, then you should replace the damaged components.  If you weren’t able to fix the problem while at the field, when you get home take your paintball gun apart and inspect all of its components for scratches, fraying, or other damage.  Check out each individual part.  As soon as the paintball gun starts to fail or act funny, try checking the sear and hammer first.  For your marker to operate flawlessly, the hammer and sear must be sharp, with cleaning edges that are not worn down or worn out.  If your bolt, sear, and hammer do not show any obvious signs of wear and tear, have an airsmith inspect the entire machine. An airsmith is to a paintball gun what a blacksmith is to machine tools.

As an avid paintball player, I recognize that it’s just not possible to win every game. Still, I find myself constantly striving to get better – to hone my mental and physical game to a whole new level. If you’re not working toward a goal, what’s the sense of even participating? For my part, I realize that defense isn’t exactly my strong suit. I’m almost always the most experienced player on my team, which means others rely on me to take precise, accurate shots. I’m always been handy with paintball gun scopes.

Even though I don’t particularly like defense – there’s less glory if you succeed and plenty of blame if you fail – I wanted to give it a try my last time out. Being in an unfamiliar position with a strange new strategy actually proved to be invigorating. This new challenge reminded me of what I liked about the game in the first place. I got to experience the thrill and suspense of playing a new position while improving my overall skills.

Just as it takes a special personality and mental makeup to play goalie in soccer, it takes the same patience and sharp reflexes to be a paintball sniper. The sniper must rely on his own quick instincts in addition to the camouflage he wears in order to lure opposing players within range. Safety standards ensure that most paintball guns are capable of firing the same distance. Increased firepower wouldn’t be safe.

Therefore, it’s all about finding a gun that feels good in your hand and that can hit a target reliably. Consistency is key, and that’s exactly what you’ll find in Tippmann paintball guns. Any sniper worth his salt will also need a gun sight or scope attachment in order to guarantee pinpoint accuracy. Once you’re engaged in a firefight with the competition, you’ll need to abandon the use of the scope and fire away of your own accord.

How many games of paintball have you won by making a reckless dash into enemy fire? How about by hiding in a bunker without taking any risks whatsoever? The answer to both questions is no, of course, because paintball requires a modicum of strategic movement. The advanced player will know instinctively when to relocate to a new position and when it’s best to stay put.

In simple terms, the goal of successful positioning is to discover your opponent’s position without giving away your own. Think of yourself as a spy or covert operative, keeping your presence a secret at all costs. As long as you have more information than your opponent, you can maneuver yourself into a winning position. Remember to always be moving forward down the field of play with your tactical paintball guns, taking occasional breaks to evade enemy fire.