Ever since the game of paintball was invented in the 1980s, it has become one of the most popular sports today. It is an exciting game that simulates military combat using paintballs and paintball guns. These are the two important pieces of equipment that set the sport apart from other outdoor sports. The paintball gun is the primary device or firearm used by the player to shoot or mark an opposing player with paint.

A paintball gun looks like a replica of a firearm. It uses a propellant - a rapidly expanding gas - such as carbon dioxide or air to force the paintball through the gun's barrel with a velocity of roughly 300 ft/s. This is the recommended velocity that is implemented - strong enough to cause the paintballs to burst upon impact but not fast enough to cause injuries.

A paintball gun is also called a paintball marker. It has 4 major components: the body, hopper, tank and barrels. The body of the paintball gun contains its firing mechanism. There are 4 kinds of paintball gun firing systems. These types include electro-pneumatic, which is electronically controlled using a battery to drive its motors. The electro-pneumatic paintball gun is able to fire multiple rounds such as three or six shot bursts and fully automatic. The mechanical firing system uses springs while the gas powered firing system uses pressurized gases.

The hopper is the mechanism that holds the paintball in place for the marker to fire. The tank holds the compressed gas that is used to propel the paintballs through the gun's barrel. Meanwhile, paintball marker barrels come in a variety of lengths with varying effects. There are many varieties of paintball guns that a player can choose.

If you are a first time player you can rent a paintball gun. Serious players will want to have the best paintball guns with high capacity, power and performance. The cost of a paintball gun depends on the pressure system that the gun uses. If you are planning to buy a paintball marker, you should devote some time and effort to research about which paintball guns are affordable, dependable, and high performing.