Paintball Markers Are an Important Part of the Game

To those unfamiliar with the sport, paintball markers are what most people would call the guns. They're referred to as markers because they don't shoot real bullets of course, and the objective of the game is not to hurt or injure anyone, but to really "mark" them with a paint splotch. The term paintball marker also started to be used for those who were a bit concerned with the violence of such a sport, as a way to reassure them that no one was really going to get hurt, and because these pieces of equipment were originally used by forestry rangers to mark certain trees or areas of the forest or wandering cattle.

Paintball markers are an entire field of industry themselves. They use a type of gas, usually carbon dioxide or compressed air, to propel the paintballs forward. They often have electronic triggers, as the speed of which one can fire makes a huge difference when it comes to success on the paintball field.

The speed of which paintball markers shoot the paintballs is actually governed by most paintball fields. A maximum velocity of 300 feet per second is typical for most locations, as anything beyond that would no doubt cause injury to the players. If you ever see a "300 FPS" sign on a paintball field or in their rule book, you know what they're talking about.

The length of the barrel for paintball markers varies considerably, from three inches for very small models, up to 21 inches, and in some cases, marker barrels can be even 48 inches for the real shooters. Many allow their barrels to be interchanged with those that are custom made, so that the shooter has a real fit with their own personal paintball marker in making it comfortable for them personally and for the type of game they are playing.

Because of the many pieces that go into paintball markers, a good piece of equipment can run you several hundred dollars, although the most basic brands may be around a hundred dollars or so. Many of the parts can be interchanged with upgraded accessories, and these too can be very expensive. However, if you're someone that's serious about making paintball a lifelong hobby, you need to remember that a good paintball marker will make the difference between success and failure on the field, so be prepared to view it as the investment that it is.