Engineering:Paintball pistol

Redux R043 paintball pistol with extended grip

Paintball pistols are a type of paintball marker used in paintball, which loosely resemble pistols. There are two main types of pistols: pump and semi-automatic.

Uses of a pistol and basic use

Speedball

Paintball pistols are not used in tournament level speedball games. Due to one marker per person rules, a player may not carry two markers onto the field. A pistol has a lower shot capacity, leaving the player at a severe disadvantage against an opponent. Sometimes in recreational settings a player will agree to play with a pistol to put themselves at a severe disadvantage to attempt to prove superior skill over an opponent. Playing in such a situation has many similarities to stock paintball. Despite these apparent disadvantages there are a growing number of players who choose to play with a pistol as their primary marker.

Scenario

Paintball pistols are primarily used as a sidearm. The use of a paintball pistol is often as a last resort situation. In scenario games often drivers of paintball tanks will utilize a paintball pistol as a backup marker.

Some players use them as their primary weapons.

Manufacturers

Paintball pistols are manufactured by a number of companies in a few main calibers. The three calibers are 11mm/.43 cal, .50 cal, and .68 cal . The main manufacturers of paintball pistols are Tippmann, Tiberius Arms (now called First Strike), and Kingman. The price points on the pistols range from approximately $100–$400. Walther, the gun manufacturer based in Germany, also makes .43 caliber paintball pistol replicas of a few of its real pistols as training tools for police forces. These paintball markers are built to match the weight, action, and feel of the real gun. These markers have the designation "RAM" which stands for "real action marker", which means they match the real pistol they represent in the slide action, recoil, safety mechanism, and of course weight.

Accessories

Many accessories are available for paintball pistols including holsters, mock silencers, scopes, flashlights, laser lights, and high performance part kits.

See also

List of Paintball Pistols.