|
Mar
06
|
Some people prefer the term “marker” over “gun” in paintballing, because guns are associated with violence. Because the game is meant to be fun and isn’t meant to encourage viciousness, distinguishing the guns as markers helps lift this extreme sport to a higher level.
By understanding the anatomy and framework of a marker, you can better understand the equipment and better determine which design is right for you. Here are some of the main parts:
The loader is also known as a hopper. This is the part that physically holds the paintballs in the marker. Tippmann has a patented hopper called the Cyclone Feed System. Other manufacturers make agitating hoppers with sensors that help ensure that a paintball is completely loaded before firing, preventing sliced paintballs. Tournament-style marker guns often use hoppers with force-feed mechanisms.
Markers use nitrogen, CO2, or compressed air as propellants. Nitrogen is typically more expensive. A valve allows the air to fire the paintball when the trigger is pulled. Burst disks are included on the side of air tanks so that the tank won’t explode if it is overfilled with air.
Semi-automatic and full-automatic markers allow for fast paintball loading, which differs from manual pump-style markers.
The barrel itself averages 16 inches in length, but this varies considerably, depending upon your design choice and needs. A barrel plug should be placed on the end of the barrel between games, to ensure that the paintball marker does not fire a ball by accident. The balls themselves contain water-based paints made out of gelatinous substances for easier clean-up.
The sight rail is the part of the marker that allows for a scope to be attached, and the feed neck is where you actually insert the paintballs.
There is a lot of jargon associated with the game, and you’ll pick up other terms as you gain experience in paintballing.