All About Paintball

What is paintball?

Paintball is a sport in which players attempt to eliminate each other by means of air-powered guns that shoot balls filled with paint. It’s basically a big game of tag.

What are paintballs?

Paintballs are .68 inches in diameter. The outer shell is biodegradable gelatin, manufactured similarly to bath-oil beads. The inside fill is a brightly-colored, non-toxic goop similar to children’s finger paint. Here's a YouTube video about how paintballs are made.

What is a paintball gun?

A paintball gun or "marker" (they were originally invented to mark trees or livestock from long range) is a trigger-activated airgun. There are many different kinds, but they all have three things in common: a trigger to fire a shot, a container filled with pressurized air or CO2 for propellant, and something to hold a supply of paintballs and feed them into the gun.



Does getting shot with a paintball hurt?

It can.

How much?

It depends on where on your body you get hit, what you’re wearing, and how far away the shooter is. It’s usually similar to getting snapped with a rubber band. If you get shot at close range, you might get a small bruise. If you're shot from long range, or are wearing a few layers¹, you might not even notice. We'll play with a surrender rule, so that if you're within 10 feet of your target, you must offer the chance to surrender without being shot.

If it hurts, why would I want to play?

It’s really fun.

Is it dangerous?

Statistically, paintball is less dangerous than most other action sports, or even bowling or golf. Of course, any time you've got fast-moving projectiles, safety rules become *very* important. Before we start, you'll receive a safety briefing, and all the equipment you'll need, including a barrel blocker and an approved face mask which will protect your eyes, nose, mouth, and ears. Referees keep a close eye on the action, and enforce safety rules religiously.

What should I wear?

Clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. Long pants, long sleeved shirts. Sneakers or turf shoes. Some people like to wear hats, bandanas or headbands. Some wear gloves. Some like to wear a few layers to minimize the feeling when you get shot. Some people wear turtlenecks or neckerchiefs. It's not a bad idea for guys to wear a cup, 'cuz getting zapped in the man-place is no fun at all.

Does the paint stain?

It's water soluble. According to paintball manufacturers, it does not stain. I wouldn't wear silk.

Do I need to buy a paintball gun?

No. The venue will have all the equipment we need: gun, mask, barrel plug, and paintballs.

Some paintball guns shoot really fast. Am I going to get shot with a machine gun?

No. There will be no machine guns allowed in our friendly game.

Will I be playing with/against strangers?

Assuming we get more than ten people, we'll have a field to ourselves.

Will I enjoy paintball?

Only you can answer that. Paintball is fast moving, loud, competitive, and very exciting. It’s a huge rush, and a great way to blow off steam. It’s the kind of thing that if you suspect you’ll like it, you almost certainly will. If you suspect you won’t like it, you probably won’t. If you really don’t know, give it a try.

How much will this cost?

$35, assuming you don't buy extra paint.

¹ The first time Chris went, he wore snow pants. This strategy successfully kept him from feeling any lower-body hits, but it also reduced mobility to a significant degree and provoked laughter on the part of some observers.
- posted by Chris @ 3:48 PM 0 comments

 
Stocking Stuffers for Paintball Players
If you need to buy holiday presents for a paintball player, here are some items that aren't too expensive, but all ballers need. The focus here is on useful, not flashy. This is stuff that can help make a newer player more self-sufficient.

Almost (if not) all paintball markers are held together with hex screws which require allen keys to loosen or tighten. This allen key set from Sears has 11 keys ranging from .05" all the way to three eighths. It includes all the sizes typically needed by paintball players. It's the set I use. $15 at Sears.com.

Paintball markers have many threaded connections which must be airtight at high pressures. The best way to accomplish that is with a thread-locker liquid. One of the best is Loctite 242, also known as "blue" Loctite. Easily creates airtight connections, but can quickly be cracked with a little force when you need to remove a part. Perfect for attaching macroline fittings to ASAs or regulators, or securing pressure gauges or port plugs. $6 at Amazon.com.

Another great general-purpose product is Triflow lubricant. A drop or two on your tank threads will help insure that it will be easy to attach and detach your tank from your gun. Also good for lubing Intimidator bolts. $8 at Amazon.com.

Speaking of lube, Dow 55 and Dow 33 are staples among paintball airsmiths. Dow 55 is a viscous lube which swells o-rings. It's the recommended lube for everything inside an Intimidator except the bolt. Dow 33 is a lighter lube which does not swell o-rings. It's also known as Sl33k or Dye Slick Lube. Five ounce tubes of either are less than $25 from Manhattan Supply, or you can find smaller tubs at O-ring Monkey.

If you're working on your own guns, sooner or later you're going to need to replace some o-rings. It can be hard to figure out which o-ring goes where, but O-ring Monkey has well-labeled boxed kits for most popular markers. While you're there, grab an o-ring pick, too.

You probably can't shoot what you can't see. Fog Tech is a great product for preventing fog from building up inside a paintball player's mask. Comes in fluid form, or in pre-treated wipes. A real lifesaver on hot days. $15 for the solution, or $6 for 5 moist towelettes, both at Amazon.com.

This last idea is a bit of a luxury item. If you play paintball at an organized field or in tournaments, it's critical that you be able to control the muzzle velocity at which you shoot. The Radarchron is a small hand-held paintball chronograph that will tell you exactly how fast you're shooting. $70 at Amazon.com.

I hope these ideas have helped if you're shopping for a paintball player.

Full disclosure: I'm an Amazon Associate, so I'll get a little kickback if you buy from any of the Amazon links. That doesn't affect the price you pay. I don't get anything from the other sites.
- posted by Chris @ 11:33 PM 0 comments

 
Frequently Asked Questions about Paintball
What is paintball?

Paintball is a sport in which players attempt to eliminate each other by means of air-powered guns that shoot balls filled with paint. It’s basically a big game of tag.

What are paintballs?

Paintballs are .68 inches in diameter. The outer shell is biodegradable gelatin, manufactured similarly to bath-oil beads. The inside fill is a brightly-colored, non-toxic goop similar to children’s finger paint.

What is a paintball gun?

A paintball gun or "marker" (they were originally invented to mark trees or livestock from long range) is a trigger-activated airgun. There are many different kinds, but they all have three things in common: a trigger to fire a shot, a container filled with pressurized air or CO2 for propellant, and something to hold a supply of paintballs and feed them into the gun.



Does getting shot with a paintball hurt?

It can.

How much?

It depends on where on your body you get hit, what you’re wearing, and how far away the shooter is. It’s usually similar to getting snapped with a rubber band. If you get shot at close range, you might get a small bruise. If you’re shot from long range, or are wearing a few layers¹, or are jacked up on an adrenaline rush, you might not even notice. We’ll play with a surrender rule, so that if you’re within 10 feet of your target, you must offer the chance to surrender without being shot.

If it hurts, why would I want to play?

It’s really fun.

Is it dangerous?

Statistically, paintball is less dangerous than most other action sports, or even bowling or golf. Of course, any time you’ve got fast-moving projectiles, safety rules become *very* important. Before we start, you’ll receive a safety briefing, and all the equipment you’ll need, including a barrel blocker and an approved face mask which will protect your eyes, nose, mouth, and ears. Referees keep a close eye on the action, and enforce safety rules religiously.

What should I wear?

Clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. Long pants, long sleeved shirts. Sneakers or cleats. Some people like to wear hats, bandanas or headbands. Some wear gloves. Some like to wear a few layers to minimize the feeling when you get shot. Some people wear turtlenecks or neckerchiefs. It's not a bad idea for guys to wear a cup, ‘cuz getting zapped in the man-place is no fun at all.

Does the paint stain?

It’s water soluble. According to paintball manufacturers, it does not stain. I wouldn’t wear silk.

Do I need to buy a paintball gun?

No. The venue will have all the equipment we need.

Some paintball guns shoot really fast. Am I going to get shot with a machine gun?

No. There will be no machine guns allowed in our friendly game.

Who’s invited?

People Chris knows, who are fun.

OK if I bring my wife/kid(s)/friend(s)?

Sure. As long as they’re 10 or older², and fun. And know Chris.

My kids? Really?

Well...maybe. This isn't a childcare activity. It's an all-ages activity to which children and youth are welcome. Either your kid(s) need(s) to take care of themselves, or you'll need to supervise them. I'm not doing it. I wouldn't hesitate to bring a teenager. I might hesitate to bring a younger kid, if they need a lot of supervision, or haven't played before. My own kids (12 and 10) were super enthusiastic about paintball, right up until they got hit with one. They immediately recanted all previous enthusiastic statements, and refused to participate further.

Will I be playing with/against strangers?

Assuming we get enough people, we’ll have a field to ourselves. You might not know everyone in our group, but since Chris is inviting only groovy people, that won’t be a problem.

Will I enjoy paintball?

Only you can answer that. Paintball is fast moving, loud, competitive, and very exciting. It’s a huge rush, and a great way to blow off steam. It’s the kind of thing that if you suspect you’ll like it, you almost certainly will. If you suspect you won’t like it, you probably won’t. If you really don’t know, give it a try.

How much will this cost?

Probably around $35 for the night.

¹ The first time Chris went, he wore snow pants. This strategy successfully kept him from feeling any lower-body hits, but it also reduced mobility to a significant degree and provoked laughter on the part of some observers.
² In Massachusetts, you must be at least 10 years of age to play paintball.
- posted by Chris @ 4:09 PM 0 comments

 
Do you support Article 15?
I've taken the poll down. Vote's over. Done deal. Thanks for your interest.
- posted by Chris @ 10:22 AM 0 comments

 

Fatalistic

Me: So, what are the odds?
She: The odds of what?
Me: The odds that booking six months in advance and with the warmest winter on record, we'd manage to plan to fly to DisneyWeird on the day of the first Nor'easter of the year?
She: 100%.
- posted by Chris @ 10:35 AM 0 comments