2. All About Paintball
2.1 What is Paintball?
2.2 Is Paintball Safe?
2.3 What is the History of
Paintball?
2.4 What is Stock Class
Paintball
2.5 Where Can I Find Out More
About Paintball?
3. Posting to R.S.P.
3.1 What Topics Can I Cover in my
Posts?
3.2 Can I Post Ads For Gear I'd Like to
Sell?
3.3 Can I Post Advertisements for My
Paintball Business
3.4 How Do I Post A Message
Requesting to Buy Paintball
Gear?
4. Commonly Asked Questions on R.S.P.
4.1 Which Gun should I
Buy?
4.2 What's Better - A 'Mag or a
'Cocker?
4.3 Where Can I Buy Paintball
Gear Online?
4.4 What's the Difference
Between C02, Nitrogen
and HPA?
4.5 How Many Shots Can I Get Off My
Tank?
4.6 What is Team Internet?
4.7 What's the Deal With Those
Abbreviations (TIP#3326)
in Everyone's Signature?
5. The Not So Fine Print
5.1 Acknowledgments
5.2 Disclaimer
5.3 Copyright
Paintball is one of the fastest growing sports in America. With such an influx of new players, many people will discover what a superb resource rec.sport.paintball is to share information. This FAQ is an effort to make the group as efficient as possible by answering the most commonly asked questions and provide guidelines for postings. Hopefully, with input from the members of the group, this FAQ will help make the rec.sport.paintball newsgroup attractive to both the new and experienced player.
This FAQ is considered a work in progress and will continue to evolve with both the newsgroup and the sport itself. Comments and suggestions are welcome and should be sent to the maintainer.
The original FAQ for this group was maintained by Steve Mitchell. With his permission I have incorporated his content into this new version. The original FAQ has not been updated since 1996 and should be considered obsolete. If you find versions of the old FAQ please direct the publisher to this new FAQ.
This FAQ can be easily be obtained by several different means:
Usenet
The r.s.p. FAQ is automatically posted to several different Usenet newsgroups every 7 days by the MIT FAQ Server. These newsgroups include rec.sport.paintball, news.answers and rec.answers. Since r.s.p. is a fairly active group the FAQ post may be dropped to make room for new messages. If this happens it can be found by doing a search on one of the newsgroup archives such as Deja NewsAnonymous FTP
The latest text version can always be found at ftp://ftp.pwb.com/mac/misc/pballfaq.txt. It is also mirrored at the official FAQ archives at MIT.
This FAQ can also be received via electronic mail by sending a request to the maintainer.
1.3 What is rec.sport.paintball?
Rec.sport.paintball was originally created in 1992 by UseNet enthusiasts who were unable to participate in alt.sport.paintball because of its ALT.* status. It is a newsgroup devoted to all things Paintball. Anything even remotely having to do with the sport is considered a valid topic of discussion. Threads about events, equipment, tactics, tournaments and personalities are all welcome. Postings for the sale of paintball gear and advertisements for related commercial ventures are also acceptable if some general guidelines are followed (See Section 3).
PLEASE NOTE: rec.sport.paintball is *not* a moderated newsgroup. It never has been, and hopefully never will be. No one can control what is posted and there are no rules. *Whenever* someone posts racist remarks or offers to build you your very own paintball web page please do NOT respond. It only makes the guy stay longer. Just ignore him totally or, if you must get that weight off your chest, answer via private email. Also, please avoid responding to folks asking "Which gun should I buy?," etc. Just point them to the FAQ (that's what it's here for!) or one of the many paintball Web pages.
The following charter was included in a post to news.announce.newgroups approving the creation R.S.P as a newsgroup. The first draft of the charter was submitted by Geoff Bronner and refined during the discussion period to produce the final result.
This newsgroup is for discussions of paintball (also known as Pursuit, Splatball, Speedball). The discussion is not limited to any single part of the sport and can include topics ranging from the technology used to developing equipment to game strategies. Other acceptable subjects would include efforts to sell used equipment and to set up games between readers of the group.
It is the goal of this group to provide a source of information for players new to the game and promote responsible and safe paintball activities for players at all levels of ability. In keeping with this goal, this charter encourages reviews of playing fields and paintball related products by patrons, owners, sales staff, and any one else involved with the sport. It is believed that the readers of the group are better served if the discussion includes all points of view from within the industry surrounding the sport of paintball. Posters who do post reviews are encouraged to include a disclaimer which explains any conflict of interest they may have.
2.0 All About Paintball
Paintball is an adult version of the children's game "Capture the Flag". It involves both the physical exertion of moving over various terrain and the mental activity of developing strategies. The object is to capture the opposing team's flag and bring it back to your team's home base. While you are trying to capture the flag, you are also trying to eliminate opposing players by tagging them with a gelatin capsule filled with water- soluble paint expelled from a special air gun called a "paint gun". When players are hit and marked, they are out for the remainder of the game and have to wait until the next one starts. Most games are timed and last between 15-30 minutes. Most games are played on commercial fields and are refereed to keep the game fair and controlled.
Like any other activity or sport, there is always the potential for injury. However, standard safety rules, and the proper use of industry developed and approved safety equipment have made paintball one of the safest participatory sports. In fact, insurance company statistics have shown that more people are hurt bowling and fishing than playing paintball. When on the field players must *ALWAYS* wear protective goggles which are usually part of a special mask which protects the eyes and face.
When not on the field barrel plugs are inserted into the paintball gun to prevent paintballs from leaving the barrel. Safety is highly stressed at most fields with orientations given at the beginning of each session and referees/staff members on hand oversee the players. Finally, commercial paintball fields limit the velocity of a fired paintball to less than 300 feet per second. Players who disregard safety instructions are usually removed from the game and sit out the next. Fields which don't enforce safety requirements should be avoided.
2.3 What Is the History of Paintball?
May, 1981 - Paintball begins in Henniker, New Hampshire. The principal creators, Bob Gurnsey, a sporting goods retailer; Hayes Noel, a stockbroker, and Charles Gaines, a writer discuss the idea of some sort of stalking game.
June 27, 1981 - The first game is played: 12 players competing against each other with Nel-spot 007s pistols. The game was capture the flag. The winner captured all the flags without firing a shot.
April 1982 - The first outdoor playing field is opened in Rochester, NY, by Caleb Strong.
1982 - Charles Gaines markets paintball as the National Survival Game (NSG). PMI (Pursuit Marketing Inc.), is founded to market and distribute paintball products.
1983 - The first NSG National Championship is held with a $14,000 cash purse. The first paintball field in another country is opened in Toronto, Canada.
June, 1983 - Lionel Atwill, one of the original 12 players, writes "The Official Survival Game Manual" - the first paintball publication.
1984 - The sport is introduced to Australia under the name of Skirmish Games.
November, 1984 - The first indoor playing field is opened in Buffalo, NY, by Caleb Strong.
1985 - The first outdoor playing field is opened in England.
1988 - IPPA (International Paintball Players Association) is founded as a nonprofit association dedicated to the education, growth and safety of the sport of paintball.
1991 - Paintball begins in France, Denmark and other countries in Europe.
April 15, 1992 - REC.SPORT.PAINTBALL passes its vote for creation on a vote of 195 to 43 and is announced as an official newsgroup.
June - July, 1992 - Team Internet is formed as players prepared for the World Record Game at Jack Frost Mountain, PA.
November, 1992 - NPPL (National Professional Paintball League) is founded in Chicago and the NPPL Pro-Am Series starts with events around the US.
1995 - Paintball fields are open all in Europe, Asia, and South America.
1996 - The IPPA is officially disbanded.
1996 - Paintball playing fields, stores and tournaments can now be found in Canada, the United States, Australia, England, Scotland, Denmark, France, Holland, Germany, Austria, Ireland, Belgium, Greece, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Africa, Russia, New Zealand, Brazil, Venezuela, Israel, Korea, Thailand and the Philippines.
2.4 What is Stock Class Paintball?
Stock class paintball follows the same concept as stock car racing: everyone uses the same level of equipment so the competition is based on the skill of the player. It has grown as a movement by players who see the technology of paintball becoming a substitute for skill. Stock class players enter the field with a limited amount of air and paint so every shot must count. Players win by relying on marksmanship and movement instead of "accuracy by volume".
The following guidelines have generally been accepted as the standards for a "stock class" paintball gun:
Feed/Operating System
- The maker is powered by a single 12 gram CO2 cartridge
- The marker must be manually actuated (i.e. pumped) to load a ball and cock the markers action. Semi-automatic or double-action markers are not allow (with the exception of the Crossman 3357 Spotmarker)
- Paintballs are gravity fed from a tube parallel to the barrel
- The marker must be tilted to load each paintball (No direct feeds)
- The feed tube cannot hold more than 20 paintballs
- The feed tube cannot be modified to impede the balls from rolling off the bolt with the exception of the thickness of the main body and the tube above it
- The magazine tube or feeding block's outer circumference must touch the outer circumference of the barrel and must be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the barrel. It must be flat with no ramps to help balls roll to the bolt. (This is to prevent any design that provides enough space to stack paintballs and be ready to load without tilting the paintmarker.)
Power System
- "Quick changers" for the CO2 cartridge are not allowed. The knob holding the CO2 in must be unscrewed and the 12 gram dropped out through the threads. (With the exception of the Nelspot 007 and Crossman 3357 Spotmarker.)
- The knob must be turned at least one and one half full revolutions to remove it. Check valves are not allowed. For safety reasons, removing the CO2 must inactivate the marker
- Phantom stock class, Rat-a-tac, and other "bucket-type" quick changers are permitted
Barrel
- Holes, rifling, or muzzle brakes are not allowed. The barrel may be any length but must be smooth bored and solid
- There can be one barrel addition but must not exceed eight inches from the tip of the (original marker's) barrel and may not be drilled, rifled, etc.
Miscellaneous
- Autotriggers are not allowed
- Any type of stocks, grips, and sights are allowed with the exception of Battlegrips for the Nelspot which have a drop out hole for the twelve gram cartridge
2.5 Where Can I Find Out More About Paintball?
There are several resources one can use to follow the sport of Paintball or find out more information.
IRC
#Paintball on Internet Relay Chat (IRC) provides a real time chat forum for paintball players.Web Sites
Warpig is the most complete paintball web site on the Net. It contains technical articles, tips for beginners, and tournament news. The site is also a good jumping off point for other paintball related web sites. The authors, Bill and Dawn Mills, are well know in the paintball community and update the page frequently.Ravi's Paintball Place leans toward the more advanced player. Much of the material on his site is mostly technical in nature and focuses upon upgrade and performance enhancements. The author, Ravi Chopra is a regular on R.S.P. and has written many articles and reviews for the paintball community.
Magazines
There are several magazines dedicated to the sport and are available both at the newsstand and via subscriptions. These include Action Pursuit Games, Paintball 2Xtremes, and Action Sports International. All three include equipment reviews, tournament news, and columns about tips and tactics. Subscription Information is available on Warpig. Paintball News is a free monthly tabloid which covers Rec and tournament events. It is available at most paintball fields and stores.Books
"Paintball! Strategies and Tactics" by Bill Barnes with Peter Wrenn. Written in 1989 and revised in 1993, this book predates the popularity of semiautomatic paintball guns. However, it provides and interesting insight into the history of the sport and has some great advice on strategy and tactics for the beginning player."Paintball, the Wizard's Way: The Authoritative Book on Paintball Equipment, Strategy, and Tactics" by Ronald E. Elbe. Written in 1994, this book is supposedly aimed at the intermediate to advanced player. Most of the subjects covered relate to individual sniper type tactics instead of teamwork and cooperation.
3.0 Posting to R.S.P.
3.1 What Topics Can I Cover In My Posts?
R.S.P. invites the discussion of virtually any topic related to the sport of paintball. Subjects include (but are not limited to) equipment questions, event notifications, tips, tactics, reviews, "editorials", humor and announcements. Posts regarding the promotion of the sport to new players in the form of answers to questions or helpful advice are especially encouraged.
3.2 Can I Post Ads for Gear I'd Like to Sell?
It is acceptable for people to post "classified ad" type messages in an effort to sell personal paintball gear. However it is requested that the prefix FS: be added to the subject header (FS = For Sale). For example, SUBJECT: FS: Tricked Automag + Nitro indicates the poster is trying to sell an upgraded Automag with a Nitro system. The FS:allows people to either skip over the message or even use a filter to automatically delete the message or file it in a specific location. The use of such prefixes is a generally accepted practice on all newsgroups.
3.3 Can I Post Advertisements For My Paintball Business?
The posting of commercial advertisements for a company has been a much debated topic. Nearly everyone dislikes "SPAM" and many people consider commercial advertisements, even paintball related ads, junk mail. But since the group is not moderated it is nearly impossible to police such posts. Therefore it is it is strongly suggested that a post of an advertisement for a commercial organization have the prefix AD: added to the subject header (AD = Advertisement). For example, SUBJECT: AD: Good Deals on Paint!. This allows people to either skip the message or invoke a filter.
3.4 How Do I Post A Message Requesting to Buy Paintball Gear?
People who looking to buy used gear should post a message with the prefix WTB: in the subject header (WTB = Wanting to Buy). For example, SUBJECT: WTB: Nitro System indicates the poster is looking to purchase a nitro system. Be sure to include your contact information in the body of your message so sellers can contact you directly.
4. Commonly Asked Questions On r.s.p. (Which Should NOT Be Asked)
As in all newsgroups there are certain threads that keep reappearing. Usually they are brought back by "newbies" who do not follow proper netiquette. They refuse to read the FAQs or lurk on the group for a short period before posting. If you even THINK it might be an old question then it probably is. Most of the players in the group will patiently skip over the post with a shrug and a shake of the head, but a few are pretty close to the edge. So to avoid being "lit up at close range" please check here first for the answer.
Buying that first paintball gun is a subjective decision that a player must make for himself. No single gun is going to please everyone. One needs to become aware of features that are liked or disliked before a purchase is made. Posting a message asking which gun to buy will give you a plethora of answers - none of which you can use. You need to find the gun that is best for you. The answers you will receive are the guns that are best for them.
The recommendations most commonly given are to shoot as many different guns as possible and ask other players why they chose their gun. Most experienced players will let you take a couple of shots on the target range or even play a game with their marker. Make a list of features you want, then do some research to find the gun that has those features and is still in your price range. For example, I want a semi automatic gun with an upgradeable barrel, built in vertical adapter, and a reputation for durability for $275.
You can even use R.S.P. as a resource. But instead of asking "Which gun should I buy?" ask the question "How is the X-1 Paintblaster as a starter gun?" Such a question will give you both the pros and the cons of a gun and be much more informative.
4.2 What's Better - A Mag or a Cocker?
The 'Mag vs.'Cocker debate has been raging throughout the paintball community for as long as both guns have existed. Again, this issue is purely subjective and can only be decided by the individual. Both are tournament level guns that can be tricked out extensively.
Each gun has its own reputation. In a nutshell, the Automag has very few moving parts and is very simple to maintain and troubleshoot. Its main caveat is that it does not handle liquid CO2 very well. It is reputed to have one of the fastest rates of fire. The Autococker is know as the gun that is owned by players who like to "tinker with their gun". It has many moving parts and is one of the most modifiable guns on the market.
4.3 Where Can I Buy Paintball Equipment Online?
Most paintballers advocate buying equipment from a local paintball dealer. However, everyone knows paintball is an expensive sport and wants to get the best deal possible. There are several sites which specialize in selling paintball gear over the Web. Here are some of the most visible:
Paintball Online
Skan-Line Sports
Best Paintball Prices
I&I Sports
888 Paintball
4.4 What's the difference between C02, Nitrogen and HPA?
There are two main power sources used to propel a paintball out of a paintball gun - Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Nitrogen/High Pressure Air (N2/HPA). Both are very common and each has its pros and cons.
Carbon Dioxide, more commonly know as CO2, is the most commonly used propellant due mainly to the fact that it has been around since the beginning of the sport and is fairly inexpensive. Its main disadvantage is its sensitivity to temperature. As a CO2 tank warms up or cools down the available pressure either rises or falls. For a paint gun, differences in pressure mean inconsistent velocities.
This sensitivity to temperature is due to the fact that CO2 is stored as a liquid. The gaseous form of CO2 used by the paint gun is formed when some it "boils off". The tank containing the gas is a fixed volume. Since there is a direct relationship between temperature and pressure, an increase in temperature causes a corresponding increase in pressure: The pressure increases because no more liquid can turn into a gas and a higher velocity results.
CO2 can also enter the gun in its liquid state under certain conditions like sustained rapid firing. On some guns, the sub-zero temperature of the liquid CO2 causes O-rings and air seals to freeze which disrupts normal operation. Equipment such as expansion chambers, anti-siphon tanks, and remotes help negate this effect.
Nitrogen and High Pressure Air systems, commonly called Nitro and HPA, are the most prevalent alternatives to CO2. While any other inert gas (like Argon) will work, Nitrogen and HPA are the cheapest and most readily available. Since Nitrogen and HPA are stored in their natural gaseous state and not liquid, they are not susceptible to the thermal problems described above. A Nitrogen/HPA equipped paintball gun will perform consistently regardless of temperature and weather conditions. Nitrogen/HPA has almost completely eliminated velocity fluctuations. The only drawback is that Nitrogen systems costs more and some fields do not have the capability to refill the tanks.
4.5 How Many Shots Can I Get Off My Tank?
The number of shots per tank is dependent upon two main factors: the gun itself and how fine tuned the air system is. Generally speaking, high performance guns such as Mags, Cockers and the new electronic guns will provide more shots per tank than the blow-back Tippmann's and Spyders. Shots per tank will even vary on the same type of gun depending upon how the gun is setup. The table below should be used as a general guide for determining shots per tank. Please remember - your mileage may vary.
CO2 | HPA 3000 | HPA 4500 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tank Size
|
Shots
|
Tank Size
|
Shots
|
Tank Size
|
Shots
|
7 Oz
|
300-400
|
44cc
|
400-500
|
44cc
|
600-700
|
9 Oz
|
400-450
|
53cc
|
600-700
|
53cc
|
800-900
|
12 Oz
|
500-700
|
68cc
|
800-900
|
68cc
|
1200-1400
|
20 Oz
|
1200+
|
114cc
|
1250-1500
|
114cc
|
1500-2000
|
Source: Paintball 2-Xtremes Magazine July, 1998)
Formed in 1992, Team Internet is an informal organization of paintball players that have access to R.S.P. More of a club than a team, members rarely play together and then only in small groups. Team Internet has three "requirements" for membership: the candidate must have played at least once, must be able to read R.S.P. and must be a good sportsman (no cheating, helpful to newbies, etc). Information on how to join Team Internet and the Team Internet FAQ are available at http://www.warpig.com/paintball/net_resources/tip.html
4.7 What's The Deal With Those Abbreviations (TIP#3326) in Everyone's Signature?
There are several paintball related groups on the Internet. The most common is Team Internet (TIP). Once accepted into such a group (which is usually accomplished by sending e-mail to a Keeper of the List) the player is assigned a membership number. That number can then be included in one's signature. Other groups include: Mag Owner's Group (MOG), Spyder Owner's Group (SOG), Palmers Owner's Group (POG), etc. The correct form of the abbreviation contains no spaces and at least three decimal numbers, as in TIP#3326 for the author.
5. The Not So Fine Print
This FAQ is maintained byRoman Dalichow
with help and/or suggestions from:
Steve Mitchell -
Author of the
original FAQ.
Steve Davidson -
ProTeam Products