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There are several different types of paintball guns. You do not need to be a very technical person to understand the different concepts presented on this article. This article explores the different types available in the market today, with information on the mechanism and the gun’s advantages and disadvantages.
Paintball guns or markers are categorized into two: the semi automatics and the pump action markers.
Semi-automatic markers are further divided into three sub categories. These categories are open bolt paintball markers, closed bolt paintball markers and blow forward paintball markers.
Open Bolt Paintball Markers
An open bolt paintball gun is the most common type of semi-automatic markers. This type is called “open bolt” due to the fact that the bolt is held back as the marker is cocked, remaining in the rearward position after every shot is made and leaving the chamber of the gun open.
When the gun’s trigger is pulled the component holding back the bolt, known as the sear, is dropped out of the way. The bolt then moves forward via pressure of the spring and moves a paintball into the chamber in the process. In the majority of markers, the hammer strikes the valve at the same time the ball is moved into the chamber, propelling the paintball out of the barrel. Some of the air intended to fire the ball is moved through a vent to force the bolt back into its open position.
The blow back semi-automatic also works in the same way. The terms “blow back semi-automatic” and “open bolt” are interchangeable. A greater part of the paintball guns in the market today use this open bolt mechanism. A great example would be the Kingman Spyder and the Angel, a marker that employs pneumatic ram.
Closed Bolt Paintball Markers
With the closed bolt markers, the bolt is in a forward position, or is closed, when the gun is cocked. When a shot is fired, the bolt is moved back and this allows for another paintball to move into the chamber. The bolt then moves to a closed position. For a pump marker, this process is done manually. An autococker is much like the pump marker but uses three components, the ram, 3-way and the Low pressure regulator, to re-cock itself.
The closed bolt system is reputed to greatly improve the accuracy of every shot, however scientific studies made on these markers show that a negligible amount of improvement in the shot consistency and accuracy.
The design of the closed bolt marker relies heavily on a pneumatic ram which in turn, is controlled by a pneumatic switch that is attached to the gun’s trigger. Upon firing, the trigger action activates the ram and moves the bolt back, cocks the gun and allows a paintball to move into the chamber. In most guns, the bolt stays back until such time that the trigger is released again. When this happens, the switch causes the ram to force the bolt forward and feeds the ball into the breech. This process is repeated until the trigger is depressed.
This system design is naturally more accurate since the bolt is in place upon firing. The range of the gun is also significantly increased with this design since all of the gas is used to impel the paintball and no air is vented away.
Blow Forward Paintball Markers
Blow forward paintball markers are paintball guns that use a semi-automatic system wherein the gas forces the bolt forward, moving a ball into the chamber and fires the paintball. The bolt is returned to its original position with the use of a spring, resetting the gun for another shot. This design is reliant on switches to operate the system and to regulate the flow of the air through the system. This design is also more efficient in managing gas since no gas is vented to operate the system’s re-cocking action.