Everyone makes mistakes as a newbie paintballer, but some missteps are more forgivable than others. Would you rather go down fighting in a blaze of glory or running away like a yellow-bellied coward? In order to excel in paintball, you must demonstrate a certain level of fearlessness; you can’t be victorious without taking a few risks, and being hit with paintballs doesn’t hurt all that much.

When you’re pinned down behind a tree or a brush pile, focus on finding ways to move forward. If you’re not encroaching into enemy territory, you’re rocking back on your heels and displaying vulnerability. On the other hand, if you stay moving, you will be more likely to escape capture. Don’t give your enemies the satisfaction of shooting you at point-blank range. Lob a few paintball grenades their way and keep moving.

Let’s keep the hurt out of paintball and provide safety at the same time. You should probably think of your head first since it has many vulnerable areas. A good helmet is a must. You can get the old WWII style, add goggles to protect your eyes then add some kind of a hood to protect your ears. There are many good one-piece tactical masks incorporating all these features. When shopping for one look for a broad field of view, good ventilation to keep your face cool, anti fogging for your eye area, along with head and chin straps. Other nice items to have are gloves, groin protection, and some type of body armor. See what your budget will handle, but definitely I would start with a good tactical mask or helmet.

Certainly we are not going back to the old West for a shoot-out at the OK Corral, nor are we the posse chasing after the bad guys who are shooting their pistols. You must remember that pistols have a very short range and the thought of having a battle with pistols is far out. Pistols, however, do have their place on the battlefield. How about the Grenadier who has no other direct fire weapon or even the machine-gunner? It all comes down to close, very close combat, where a pistol may be the weapon of choice. Perhaps now a paintball pistol sounds more appealing to you – I definitely think you should consider a paintball pistol when you find yourself in a close combat scenario.

When participating in a paintball scenario every combatant likes to fire full automatic. WOW – it feels so good – you may even have the impression that “no one can get to me.” False! Even in the game of paintball, its vital to remember neither you nor your opponent has an endless supply of ammunition. All participants need to conserve their ammo or they may find thenselves “out of the game.” Don’t let this happen to you! My advice to you is this: “Often a well placed single shot is the most effective way to engage a target.”

Preparing for a game, naturaly you want to pack everything including the “kitchen sink”. Weather is a major factor when selecting your gear. First is your clothing; vests, helmets, safety goggles etc. Second is your paintball gun and your ammunition, quantity depends if the scenario allows for resupply. Third is water and rations – they can be very heavy so again the amount depends on resupply. Remember “what you pack” is “what you carry”. Everyone wants to be totally prepared – smoke, grenade launchers a radio, binoculars, night vision devices are practical, and the list goes on. Now comes the hard part. Take a good look at the scenario and what role you’ll play then based on that, make your final packing decision. Your comfort and safety are paramount, but remember that fun is the name of the game, so be smart and ask yourself, “is this really necessary?”

What does a sniper look for in a paintball gun? Well, let’s clear the air between the real world and the paintball world. In the real world we see great snipers get hits at 2 km, however, in our paintball world, we have a maximum range of about 200 feet. A Tippmann Flatline Barrel can increase range, a J and J ceramic may do the same as well as others like Smart Parts or Apex. A barrel which is too long will reduce your range. Tippmann Paintball Guns commonly use a 20 inch barrel, however, a 14-16 inch barrel is OK too! Simple iron sights seem better than scopes. Equally important is the type of paintball used; more expensive ones are best, but not always, so experiment for yourself. Remember, you are much closer than an ordinary sniper, so camouflaging your gun is highly recommended.

Many disapproving parents and naysayers may be surprised to learn that paintball is statistically one of the safest sports to participate in, with only an estimated 4.5 injuries per 10,000 participants per year. Even these injuries tend to be along the lines of tripping and other accidents. However, paintball has been vilified for eye injuries, and an international study shows that among modern sports, paintball is responsible for about 20% of eye injuries. A one-year study by a Boston eye emergency center showed that most sports eye injuries are actually caused by basketball, baseball, hockey and racquetball.

However, eye injuries can occur more frequently if protective gear is not used while paintballing. You should always wear paintball goggles and masks to be safe. A study showed the most paintball-related eye injuries occurred in settings where eye protective equipment was not required or when protective equipment was removed due to fogging. These injuries can be devastating, even causing blindness. What’s more, most regulated paintball fields strictly enforce that all players wear masks or goggles, and players who do not comply will be ejected. Always follow the rules and stay safe while having fun!

A Ghillie Suit is a camouflage suit mostly used by snipers. History has it that it started in Scotland as a portable hunting blind. They are made of a base of durable fabric and an outer layer of cloth and jute strips. A one-piece coverall is a good base to start with. Once the outer layer is complete it can be dragged in the mud and left in the rain to season it. The objective is to eliminate the wearer’s linear outline. Once on site, local vegetation is incorporated into the suit to match the terrain. This must be changed often to prevent wilting. Caution, the inside temperature of a Ghillie Suit can exceed 120 degrees F.

Mikhail Timofeyevich Kalashnikov stated, “before attempting to create something new, it is vital to have a good appreciation of everything that already exists in this field”. Commonly known world-wide as the AK47, Automat Kalashnikova model 1947 was designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov and production began in 1947 in the USSR. Thus, is was named the AK47. He further stated, “I am still ready to shake hands with anyone who designs a better assault rifle than mine.” China manufactured their version called the Chicom AK47 – the Chezk Republic made their own version, as did many other countries. Despite estimates of some 100 million AK47 assault rifles circulating, General Kalashnikov claims he has never profited and only receives a state pension.

The popularity of the AK47 Paintball Gun is due mainly to its simplicity, ruggedness and ease of maintenance. This weapon can be used in harsh conditions such as mud, rain and sand, and still perform well. It has a distinctive report and should only be used as an aggressor’s weapon.

Especially with paintball markers this makes a difference. When you are above the target you are using plunging fire which makes your rounds plunge toward the ground. This is good for indirect fire like artillery, but poor for direct fire weapons. For direct fire weapons, especially machine guns, pick a location that allows the gunner to fire across the target area at approximately one meter off the ground. This method allows paintballs to hit anything that happens to be in their path. This is excellent for defense, but also can be used for offense.