Paintball Marker Guide What is a paintball marker? A marker is just the fancy paintball term for a paintball gun. They are one and the same. They are called paintball markers because of the fact that when a paintball is shot from a marker, and hits its target, the paintball explodes and “marks” the target with paint, hence the name paintball marker. Whatever you choose to call it, the paintball marker is the most important piece of equipment you can have on the field with an exception of a face mask and other safety equipment. Paintball markers have been around since the late 1970’s and there primary use at that time was to help wildlife and forestry personnel mark animals and specific trees with paint markers. The first organized paintball game took place in New Hampshire with 9 players in the latter part of 1981. At that time there were only two real variations of paintball markers, but as the sport grew and became more popular, new guns and markers have come out of the woodwork. Today there are literally hundreds of different paintball guns and variations to choose from. A paintball marker can cost anywhere from around $100 all the way up to several thousand dollars depending on what you go for. When choosing a paintball marker, it is important to first consider what kind of paintball you will primarily be playing as well as what type of player you are or want to become. If you are just going to be playing paintball in the woods around your house with a few friends, then a cheaper paintball marker will probably be just fine for your needs. However if you plan on playing speedball, or some type of scenario game, then you will need a higher performance and more specialized paintball marker. In this case you will need to consider what type of action you want as well as what type of air system you want to use. The main two types of air delivery systems are Carbon Dioxide systems and High pressure gas systems that use compressed air and other highly pressurized gases to launch the paintballs. Your Action dictates how fast your paintball marker can shoot, the faster you want your gun to shoot, the more modifications you will need as well as the more its will cost.

Paintball Tip #1 Educate Yourself! There are a variety of books, videos, and magazines that are availabe to help you improve your paintball game. Whether you want to master the game of paintball or just learn more about it for pure enjoyment, there is plenty of information available. Our favorite Paintball Guide can be found here.

Paintball Tip #2 Don't Buy The First Gun You See! Take your time and learn about the different types of paintball guns and their applications. This will better allow you to invest in a paintball gun that you will be happy with and will fit your needs and budget.

Paintball Tip #3 Protect Yourself! Always wear protective clothing when playing paintball. Its true that paintballs are non lethal, but they can still damage an eye and leave a serious welt. So always wear a full face mask, pants, and long sleeve clothing when playing paintball.