If you’ve had a taste of paintball and caught the bug for the sport or if you’ve always wanted to get kitted out, paintball is a game where you feel the adrenaline, and you just can’t stop. The game is safe, fun and keeps you fit, the perfect hobby, but there are a few things to remember when getting started.
How to Choose Your Gun
A paintball gun is used during your games and is a device that uses compressed air tanks to fire paintballs at high speeds. The game itself has many variations throughout the world, but the gun is a constant in whichever version of the game you play.
Whether you’re a beginner or an expert choosing the right gun for you is vital. There are three main types to choose from, all with varying benefits to fit every play style, but of the three main types, most paintball experts recommend selecting a mechanical gun if you’re a beginner.
- Mechanical: This is the most popular type for paintballers of all levels of skill. Reliable and affordable, this semi-automatic gun supports CO2 and HPA/Nitrogen propellants and is perfect for beginners.
- Electronic: The latest and most expensive style to hit the market, electronic paintball guns are powered by a small circuit board and offer a range of firing rates, including three-round bursts and fully automatic. An easy to clean and maintain type of paintball gun, but is recommended for experienced players only.
- Pump Action: This type has a slow rate of fire and requires more skill to master it; because of this, it is not recommended for beginners.
Now you understand the types of guns best suited for a beginner; you still need to choose a gun. The first strike range from Battle Gear UK offers a fantastic selection of guns, air tanks and apparel perfect for beginners. It’s essential to have expert advice available as you buy your first paintball gun, and Battle Gear UK are always available to offer advice on what will best suit you.
What To Wear
Safety is no joke, and paintballs can hurt. It is best to make sure you have suitable protective clothing and gear to wear when you play to avoid injury.
First things first, many paintball centres only provide basic gear to protect you. If you’re going to be playing paintball on a regular basis, you will need your own equipment.
- Combat suit including padded collar: You wear the combat suit over your lightweight everyday clothes; having a padded collar provides complete head and neck protection when worn with goggles.
- Protective goggles: Most protective paintball headgear will cover the entire face and eyes. This piece of gear is important, so you don’t receive any permanent damage if a stray paintball hits you in the eyes or face.
- Body armour: Essential to give you extra protection
- Paintball hopper: This is a device that attaches to your paintball gun and stores your paint before loading it into the firing chamber. The last thing you want is to spill any paintballs onto the ground as dirt, and other debris could damage your gun.
- Battle pack: This bit of kit contains extra paintballs and ammunition for easy access during the game.