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Jun
09
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The history of paintball has very casual roots, and this extends to the history of paintball guns, also known as paintball markers. The original paintball firing apparatus was hatched from the minds of two arguing friends, neither of whom had an extensive engineering background. Their haphazard construction may have launched the sport of paintball, but the paintball marker has evolved considerably since their first iterations.
Modern Engineering Enters the Picture
From a basic pop cap construction, a modern paintball marker now has evolved into a dizzying array of potential designs. Those looking for the latest guns will find that the technology behind paintball markers is every bit as advanced as the most sophisticated army tools. These may be toys of a sort, but they have been designed for a very discerning customer.
Modern engineering just couldn’t stay out of the paintball industry. Part of the issue was the power and consistency of the play experience. Originally hand loaded and powered by CO2 cartridges, early paintball markers couldn’t deliver the kind of accuracy or power sought by players and survivalist competitors. Thus, it was necessary to up the ante on the integral design features.
Now, a modern paintball marker is routinely loaded from hoppers that provide a steady stream of paintballs into the firing chamber. This eliminates ungainly reloading processes that can detract from a good position of cover. It also helps to extend the periods of play, since large hoppers can contain hundreds of bullets.
A More Powerful Paintball Marker
Along with superior reloading capabilities, modern paintball markers now deliver more power than ever before. The typical marker now fires at 300 feet per second, or approximately 200 miles per hour. This is a consistent speed on the new models, rather than a spotty dream as it was in past models.
Improvements in speed have allowed for different types of play, with better accuracy for players. There is less need for lead-time on shots, and results of activity are immediately visible on opponents.
The Evolution Continues
Though the early models of paintball markers were rough, modern markers have improved on the design. However, no one in the industry thinks that the design process has finished evolving. On the contrary, there are new product features being introduced all the time. Paintball players should check their favorite web sites for new product announcements and browse product offerings to stay on top of all the shifts as paintball markers continue to evolve.