Procaps, Draxxus and American Paintball Supply Say Farewell to Tyson Evenson

This post is to display Procaps message and tribute to Tyson Evenson.

"Tyson Evenson - Sly Equipment - RIP

Around 2004, an overly excited, high-energy person comes into our company's life.

Immediately, thoughts came to mind of "Here's another one of these vendors that is excited about paintball, but when will the excitement stop?" Fast-forward about three years and this excitable, energetic person still remained. An incredible lust for the sport, friendship and business ethics remained with Tyson until his last day.

Zap to Archon to American Paintball Supply and then finally to Procaps; all found great success and pleasure with Sly products.

As we mourn for someone that lost his life way too early, we should all be reminded of his passion for this sport and life in general. In this business there are few people that you can truly call a friend and when you find one, you cherish it forever.

Those that knew Tyson realize that you can't sum up all he brought us in a few short paragraphs. Instead, he would want us to continue his legacy through the crazy wacky stories, antics, games played, and the desire to make paintball the best sport in the world.

Now, raise your glass, make your balloon animal and salute Tyson one last time.

When will the excitement stop?
Hopefully never when we remember Tyson Evanson and Sly Equipment.

You will be missed more than words can say.

- From the families at Procaps LP and Procaps Direct"

Tippmann Pistol Picture Released

Tippmann releases new Tippmann Pistol information for dealers. Please see their release below:

"We at Tippmann are amazed at the number of posts and online discussions regarding the pistol we will be launching soon. Recently, an unauthorized photo was taken and then distributed on the web. We have asked a number of web sites to take down the prototype photo because of the poor image quality. As a T-Mail user, we are showing you for the first time a new shot of the pistol which is closer to how the final production version will look. But, please bear in mind this is still a prototype.

As a quick update to the pistol design, notice that the CO2 cartridge is located just beneath the barrel. It is not part of the magazine. This helps improve air efficiency, reduces the size of the grip and allows us to provide additional magazines at a great value. When completed, our pistol will have its own unique look and set a new standard for the pistol category in performance and reliability.

Unfortunately, the launch has been delayed for a few months, but we want to thank you for your continued patience – we believe the TPX Pistol will be well worth the wait."

Please remember you can pre-order one of these Tippmann pistols for the very first release in the next few months.

Paintball Is a Family Recreational Sport

Paintball is an exciting and fun activity. Many have heard that it is an extreme sport. To the contrary, many paintball parks are designed for the whole family. Like any sport, paintball has various levels and types of games to play. One of my favorites is woods ball. As a boy, I used to go hunting with my father. These days, hunting animals is just not what I want to do anymore. I would rather buy my food and hunting has become extremely expensive. Paintball gives me the same feeling of excitement and accomplishes what I am looking for in a weekend recreational activity.

.Paintball is a family sport.

Many people do not realize how much fun paintball can be for the whole family. Let 's face it we grew up fighting our siblings and what better way to have fun then to put a paintball right on her target. But, you brothers out there should beware, the women I see playing paintball are fast, sharp shooters and may just send 15 balls per second your way! Our trips to the paintball park are always a great way for my son and I to spend the day together.

. Do not fear the paintball game itself.

Most people fear paintball because they think it is going to hurt. While the occasional welt may happen, check your gear and wear proper clothing and you will be protected. It is like any other sport. Protect yourself to the comfort level you have. My son wears a chest and back protector, a full coverage paintball goggle, paintball gloves, paintball jersey and paintball pants. All of these are designed to give you comfort and protection when playing.

.Try all the paintball games.

There are many types of paintball games. Not everyone likes baseball. But, many of us play slow pitch in our adult lives. Paintball is no different. You can choose speedball, which is what most of the tournament players and kids love. You can also choose woods ball where you get to try your hand at flushing out the enemy in a camouflaged hiding spot. There are scenario games where you may be able to be a sniper or capture a criminal holding a hostage.

. Buy quality gear.

In every sport I know of, the biggest reason people often get frustrated or give up is that they do not have the proper gear. This should be done after either renting or starting with an inexpensive set of gear. Then after you have experienced the game for a little while, upgrade your paintball guns and gear to the style of play you are comfortable playing.

The main point of this article is to remove some of the fear of paintball and strongly encourage you to try it! Like other sports, it helps me forget about the daily stresses of life and enjoy some fun time with my family. After you erase your fears and decide to go, ask some friends that play to fill you in on what to expect. Rent some equipment or buy an inexpensive starter kit. An all inclusive paintball starter kit including a paintball gun (paintball marker which is the same thing) can be found online for less than $100.00. Compare that to the $10.00 to $20.00 you will pay for each rental. Protect yourself so that you are not afraid of playing the game. Then count on playing several games in the future to hone your skills and having a blast paintballing your friends and family!

About the Author

The author is the owner of an online paintball store. At RedDotPaintball.com, you'll find a wide selection of paintball guns.

Reprint rights granted. All reprints must include a link to www.reddotpaintball.com. Content may not be altered and articles must be used as distributed by Red Dot Paintball


Copyright Red Dot Paintball 2008

Paintballs, What's Going On?

Over the past few months you have probably noticed that many stores and online paintball stores have been changing their paintball line up. How come? Well, over the summer a lot of mergers happened and so the brands we have been using are going away.

How and why has this happened? Well it started with Archon. They started to work with American Paintball Supply. Archon was supplying the Zap, Chronic, Proball, Ink'd, Spank and others. American Paintball Supply was mainly using their own line developed and produced by Procaps. This was the Origin line like Classic, Signature, Basic Training. American was also supplying Black Lotus and Bushido from overseas.

When American joined forces with Archon, they took their line of Origon to Archon. Then soon after the big news came. Procaps, from Canada that produces the Draxxus line of Blaze, Gold, Silver, Bronze, Rec Sport, Triumph, Midnight and Frostbite bought out or merged with Archon. As you can imagine, they no longer had a need to compete with themselves. In addition, they partnered with American Paintball Supply to continue distributing. American needed to have the Origin line produced again and now they had to return to Procaps.

Naturally Procaps needed to consolodate their line and so here is the fallout. American Paintball Supply dropped the importation of Bushido and Black Lotus. They returned their line to Procaps. So, we will continue to see at least Basic Training and possibly Origin Classic. Most others from the Origin line have been dropped.

Archon paint like Spank and Chronic have been dropped. These are no longer available. Of course surviving are all of the Draxxus line. Procaps will continue to produce the Draxxus line and the others may survive, or be dropped, depending on their popularity.

Tippmann Pistol Update

Here is the latest information we received from Tippmann. It is not much but gives us a little more information than last time.

"Tippmann’s new Pistol is on track for a fall delivery with a design that is lightweight, compact, 68 caliber and features Tippmann’s durability and reliability.

There has been a lot of speculation about the design but here is what we can tell you. The pistol is an original Tippmann design using proprietary technology. It will be magazine fed, have a tight grip and a lightweight trigger pull. Please watch your email for more news later this fall."

We will keep you posted as soon as we here any additional information.

Egrip and Etrigger Kit for Tippmann Alpha Black

The two most popular upgrades are here and ready to ship. The Tippmann Alpha Black E-grip or E-trigger upgrade kit is shipping this Friday September 5, 2008 from our store. The E-Trigger™ Electronic Upgrade Kit includes four firing modes (semi-auto, 2 x full-auto, 3-shot safety burst) that can be changed in seconds for rapid (up to 15 balls per second) firing. At first Tippmann told us they would not release an E-trigger and hoping that customers would just sell their non-etrigger models and upgrade to the fully installed E-grip model of US Army Alpha Black paintball guns. They surprised us all and the electronic trigger upgrade kit is now here.

They also announced the release of the Cyclone Feeder that has been fully modified out of the box. You no longer need to do anything to your Alpha Black to get the Cyclone Feed to fit. Please make sure you are ordering from someone that is offering the new model of Cyclone feeder for the 98. It is not clearly marked on the boxes (especially the early release) but rest assured the Cyclone Feed will fit your Alpha Black and will work out of the box without gun modification.

Canadian or foreign models of the Tippmann Bravo can also use these upgrades. The Bravo is a copy of the Alpha Black and the upgrades will fit the Bravo models. We can ship the upgrades to Canada and internationally.

Spyder Electra Paintball Guns

Please watch this new video of the new Spyder Electra Paintball Gun. The Electra is packed with features. Paintball guns are getting more and more features for an economical price. I especially like the display on this gun that not only tells you what mode you are in, but how much battery life you have left. This is just one of the newest offerings of Spyder paintball markers.

Tadao Upgrade Board for Smart Parts Paintball Guns

One of the most popular after market circuit board technologies has created the Tadao Dynasty Upgrade Board. Now you can upgrade your Ion, Ion XE, SP8, EOS or Epiphany direct from Red Dot Paintball. As the winners of five consecutive NPPL series chamionships, there is no question that San Diego Dynasty is at the top of their game. Their Shocker and EOS markers are powered by Tadao Dynasty boards and now our customers can get this competitive edge too. The Tadao Dynasty Shocker board is compatible with the Shocker NXT, SFT and Nerve.

Tiberius Arms Paintball Guns

We have updated our Tiberius Paintball guns and will be adding all accessories within this week.

Offering Unique Customization, Tiberius Paintball Pistols & Guns Are Like No Other

Looking for a paintball marker with a true military feel? Tiberius paintball guns make a great choice.  

Tiberius Arms takes pride in creating the most versatile paintball marker on the market. With Tiberius paintball guns, you can get a hopper paintball marker, a rifle or pistol paintball marker, and a magazine fed paintball marker all in one. 

Tiberius paintball guns are available in two different series: Tag 8 and T-9. The T-9 series consists of rifles, while the Tag 8 series consists of the Tiberius paintball pistols. Tiberius paintball pistols offer: 

• Custom designs


• Internal magazines capable of holding eight paintballs


• CO2 cartridge powerful enough to fire three magazine rounds


• Metal construction

The various accessories available make it possible to completely customize Tiberius paintball pistols. These include a variety of different magazine clips, air adapters, tactical rails, extended barrels, silencers, laser lights, scopes, flashlights, and more.  

Better yet, many of these accessories can be used for both the Tag 8 and T-9 series, providing the highest level of versatility no matter which type of Tiberius paintball marker you purchase. 

Viewloader by JT Sports Brings Back Vlocity XSV

This loader has a story that you should read. The XSV was released last year. The all in one kit with so many features seemed to be an exciting new product. I had purchased one personally and was very happy with it. Then, after a very short amount of use.....the clock spring failed. I did some searching online and learned that others were having the same problem. A call to our JT sales representative and he told me that they had a problem and were going to pull them from the market. Buyer beware, the XSV's in stock from last winter will all have this problem. There is an easy fix and all you need to do is contact JT Sports and they will send you a new clock spring. Since that time, they pulled the product and now are re-releasing these with the upgraded clock spring included. We have not had any problem since then and love the loader. We have not purchased any of the old stock and so ordering from our site, you can be sure you are getting the updated model. Please follow this link to the newly released Viewloader XSV Vlocity Loader. Your paintball guns will have a hard time keeping up with this loader.

Tippmann Alpha Black Basic Ugrades Announced

Tippmann is now starting to release more upgrades for the popular Tippmann Alpha Black Series of paintball markers. The newly re-designed Tippmann's popular Cyclone Feed System will now fit both the Custom 98 Series and the US Army Alpha Black Paintball Markers. These are available immediately and can be ordered today by following the link. Also announced is the Tippmann Alpha Black ETrigger Electronic Upgrade Kit. This kit will upgrade your Alpha Black Basic or Alpha Black Basic Tactical Edition paintball guns to an E-grip model with 4 firing modes. (Semi-automatic, 3-shot safety burst, and two ful-auto firing modes) The Upgraded paintball gun will fire 15 balls per second (bps). The E-trigger upgrade kit for the Tippmann US Army Alpha Black Basic models can be ordered today by following the above link and will ship in the last 1/2 of August 2008. The paintball guns have barrels from the 98 Series threading. Any flatline or length of barrel can be used with the Tippmann US Army Alpha Black Paintball Guns.

Paintballs

The paintball world has changed again. Recently, Zap was taken over by Procaps. Procaps manufactures the Draxxus line of paintballs. While there has been some plans to continue manufacturing some of the Archon/Zap line of paintballs, most will go away. So far the list is getting smaller as inventory of older paint is being sold off. On the cut list is Zap Spank. Also, Procaps does not want to compete with itself and so they will no longer be importing Black Lotus or Bushido paintballs. Supplies on our site are limited and may not be available depending on location.

The good news is that for the time being most of the Origin line is left untouched. Basic and Classic should be available for some time. It may be a good idea to stay away from Zap Proball, Chronic and Ink'd until Procaps gets their new machine tested. Stick with the Draxxus paintball line for a couple of months until the transition is completed. Draxxus in order of low end to high end is Draxxus Triumph, Draxxus Rec-Sport, Draxxus Midnight, Draxxus Bronze and Blaze (same quality), Draxxus Silver and Draxxus Gold their premier top quality paintball brand.

The New Tippmann Straightline Barrel is Shipping!

It is finally here and ready to ship. The Tippmann kit comes with a Hammerhead barrel and 3 inserts. It also includes a handy carrying case and a small container of White Lithium Grease. They should start to show up on websites and retail stores. They are still hard to get. The first production run was small with very little being offered to each retailer. The allotment was given by salesperson. We were able to secure a few but as soon as they are sold out, we will be on a waiting list again. I have included a photo of the actual kit for your reference.

Tippmann Straightline Barrel Update

Today I received word that these new barrels should start shipping at the end of the week. We are not sure what the holdup was but Tippmann paintball gun owners will be able to purchase this new barrel and have it in their hands soon. We are anxious to hear the reviews after they are received and used in action.

I have tried the flatline on my Tippmann 98 and the straight 16" sniper barrel. Personally I have preferred the 16" sniper barrel over the flatline. I found that the straightline did not reduce my velocity and I had better accuracy. Perhaps it was just my set up or the temperature as I have to admit I did not use the flatline a second time. I switched to the 16" barrel and I was much more satisfied and so kept it!

Here are a couple of updates. First, no confirmation on shipping yet, but I heard that the first allotment will be shipped Friday and Monday. Then any new orders will also be on backorder while they catch up. So anyone past our first shipment may have another week or two wait. We will try to keep you updated.

Today I received phone call and the customer is definitely giving the knod to the flatline over the 16" barrel. They stated the barrel was more accurate in their opinion. He convinced me enough that I will likely give the flatline another try!

Spyder Pilot with Eyes

The all new 2008 Spyder Pilot with Eye Press Release is listed below. This paintball marker has replaced the Spyder Pilot ACS. You can view more of the features by following the product link at the bottom of the press release. Look to the right and you can see a red Spyder Pilot contest. Click there to be taken to the entry form.

For Immediate Release:

Kingman Group

Date: May 7, 2008

Contact: 626-430-2300

Los Angeles, CA, USA

The 2008 SPYDER ELECTRA with EYE and SPYDER PILOT with EYE

Spyder is ready to launch the highly anticipated all new generation markers

Baldwin Park, CA - The design team at Spyder has shifted in to high gear for their latest Classic Series E-Marker creations, the Spyder Electra with EYE and Spyder Pilot with EYE. The new sleek body styles account for a 25% lighter, and 15% shorter profile from predecessor Spyder markers. Once setting eyes on these new models you’ll soon realize that Spyder has stepped up the game, all while keeping the paintball player’s budget in mind.

Both markers are standard equipped with the fast and reliable LEAP™ Circuit Board, specifically designed by Tadao® Technologies. The new rear facing Color Access Mode Display (CAMD) shows the mode you are using, EYE status, and Battery status. Each marker features the new 3-way adjustable magnetic response “Saber” trigger, Aluminum EYE covers, and can run on either CO2 or Compressed Air. It appears Spyder has listened to their loyal fans when making the new Electra with EYE and Pilot with EYE compatible with a standard 9v alkaline battery, or Spyder 9.6v Rechargeable battery for optimum performance.

“You’ll have to hold one to feel the difference. These new markers are a big advancement for Spyder.” says, Jason Donaldson VP of Marketing for Spyder. He adds, “Paintball players deserve a high quality, feature packed product at a reasonable price. The new Electra with EYE and Pilot with EYE provide just that.”

For a full list of details and product images please visit the following links.

Spyder Pilot with EYE

Spyder Electra with EYE

Kingmann Paintball Guns Offer The Ever-Popular Spyder Marker

Find Out For Yourself Why Spyder Paintball Markers Are The Most Popular In The World 

Kingmann paintball guns, which are also commonly referred to as Spyder paintball markers, have been around since 1994. Since this time, Spyder paintball markers have become one of the most popular brands of paintball guns in the world.  

Paintball enthusiasts from all over the world have come to know Kingmann as the leader in paintball guns – for the best in quality, durability and value, Kingmann just can’t be beat. 

The philosophy of the makers of Spyder paintball markers has always been to combine the highest level of performance with a “dare to be different” attitude. As a result of this philosophy, these paintball guns have found themselves ahead of the pack. 

There are a number of different models of Spyder paintball markers to select from – chose the one that meets your sporting needs… 

• MR1


• MR2


• MR3


• Pilot Anti-Chop System


• VS2


• VS3


• Victor

For those looking to get started in the sport of paintball at a lower cost, Spyder paintball markers are a great place to start. Kingmann paintball guns tend to be less expensive than many of their competitors while still providing a high level of quality and a wide selection to choose from.  

Spyder Paintball Guns

New and exciting Kingmann paintball markers, which are more commonly known as Spyder paintball guns, are continually being enhanced and re-introduced to the paintball market. One of the most recent additions to the family of Kingmann paintball markers is the Spyder VS1.  

These Spyder paintball guns were released in June of ’07 and are likely to prove to be top sellers among paintball enthusiasts. 

This new paintball gun will be part of the VS series of Spyder paintball guns, which means it will offer the same electronic break-beam eyes and semi-auto / burst-firing modes found on other VS Kingmann paintball markers. In addition, this new paintball gun will offer: 

• The ability to operate at a full 20bps firing capacity with either CO2 or N2 compressed air


• The flexibility to compete in national tournaments or in backyard games with the same gun


•  Light weight, making it easy to unleash havoc upon other players with superior firepower

Spyder paintball guns have long been a favorite brand for those that are just getting into the sport, as well as for those that have been playing for years. The variety of models coupled with the high-quality and relatively low price when compared to competitors has made it a top brand. 

At RedDotPaintball.com, you’ll find this hot new gun, as well as many others at great online pricing. Take a moment to browse through our many available Kingmann paintball markers.  

This is the first in a series of posts for Spyder paintball guns. We are updating all of Spyder's paintball marker offerings and will comment on the models as they are updated on the site. 

Paintballs

Our paintball blog topic today is paintballs. Featured to the left are DraXxus Scenario Paintballs. We just added the DraXxus line to our site. From what we see from a seller's point of view is that there are two basic type of paintball buyers. The first buys on price. They believe that a paintball is a paintball and price is king. They are looking for value and believe that you are just wasting your money paying for higher end paintballs.

The second type are those that believe every edge is important and the added consistency, accuracy or coloring is key to staying in the game. Personally, I am somewhere in the middle of the two camps. Cheap paint is unpredictable and difficult to gain consistency of your accuracy. On the other hand, I am just not totally convinced that paying an extra $30.00 for a case of paint is a good idea?

What kind of paint do you use and why? I know that sometimes some paint does not agree with the equipment you are using. For example, my Tippmann Cyclone Feeder sometimes chops paint. My advice here is change the paint, there is nothing wrong with the feeder. Find a paint brand that works well with the equipment you have.

Tippmann Paintball Gun Barrels

Today we received a new product announcement from Tippmann. They are releasing a Straight Line Barrel that fits the A5 and X7 models. The barrel is to be released on June 20, 2008. Here is the information received from Tippmann today regarding this new product.

"Tippmann Sports is excited to launch a new, special edition StraightLine barrel for woodsball that was designed to complement the look of Tippmann X7 and A-5 markers. The new, 16” barrel was created through a partnership with HammerHead®, a longtime leader in paintball barrel design, and offers unmatched quality and performance characteristics.



The special edition StraightLine barrel will be sold in a complete kit featuring three sizers, a carrying case and lithium grease. It will be available in mid-June 2008 at a retail price of $149. This new barrel is set to debut at Oklahoma D-Day, where The Hellions from CPX and the SPC team from Glasgow Scotland are scheduled use the new barrel in play. We have a limited allocation for the first run of these barrels and we are now accepting orders for shipments to begin on June 20th."

We will update our Tippmann paintball gun upgrades page on the website. We are interested in what comments you can post on this new barrel for the Tippmann X7 and Tippmann A5 paintball guns.

Paintball Air Tanks, CO2, HPA, LPA

Paintball can be confusing and so is true for the paintball air tanks. Which tank and what does it all mean? Why a CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) tank or HPA (High Pressure Air)tank? Well it depends and we cannot stress the importance of knowing what your gun is recommended to run on? Please always check with the manufacturer for their recommendations.

We know from experience it can be misleading. For example, the Smart Parts Ion XE paintball gun, is an excellent marker and does state that it can run on CO2. However, the gun performs best on HPA.

What tanks do you use? Why? Which is best for which models of paintball guns or paintball markers? What about sizes? Who uses what size and why? Some look for light weights while others look for more capacity. Please share your comments.

Tippmann Pistol

On Friday we learned that Tippmann will be launching a Tippmann Pistol model. Here is the release quote.

"In addition to the new Straightline Barrel launched yesterday, Tippmann is also announcing at D-Day the launch of a new Pistol to the paintball industry. Because our dealers and core players have been asking for a premium pistol, we feel the opportunity exists for Tippmann to launch a better pistol, using brand new technology that will quickly make it the most sought after pistol on the market. Unfortunately at this time we cannot elaborate much beyond the fact that it will be .68 caliber, lightweight, compact, modifiable and have the Tippmann reliability our customers have come to expect.



At D-Day we will also be giving players an opportunity to sign up for a Sneak Peek email but of course as a Tippmann Dealer you will automatically be updated on a regular basis during the summer months. Although this pistol will not be available until the fall, we are launching at D-Day because we feel we are far enough along with this new technology and that the timing is right to announce an exciting new product to our core group of scenario players.



Tippmann is extremely excited with the initial response of our new products launched this year. The new U.S Army Alpha Black, the updated 98 Custom Platinum Series have surpassed our initial expectations by providing exceptional value to your customers and we feel our entry into this new category will further fuel the growth of paintball with the avid player."

We will keep you updated on this announcement. Do you feel Tippmann will get it right the first time and be able to compete with Tiberius Arms Pistol? (shown below)

Online Paintball Store with Free Shipping

This paintball blog is about communicating with players and customers. Today we want to know how important free shipping is in your buying decisions? Obviously there is no such thing as free. In one way or another, we have to cover our cost to include the shipping. On the other hand, consumers online may be tired of trying to learn what is the actual price they will pay when they checkout. Our paintball guns will ship free. However, a cart under $75.00 means you will have to pay a shipping and handling fee. We would like to know from our readers how much you would rather have free shipping, end of story?! Action Village charges for under $99.00 and an extra $5.00 for upgrade to "home delivery". We would continue to use Fedex or UPS Ground. For problem sales like smaller parts, we may have to ship by regular mail. Let us know your thoughts.....we may do a trial in the near future with absolutely free shipping!

Paintball Gun Warranties

Today in our paintball blog we will discuss warranties and online paintball stores. Many people like to compare retail to online and discuss whether one is better than the other. For those of you that are unsure here is a brief explanation. The basic argument is that if you shop retail and buy your paintball guns at the local paintball store you can get service if the paintball gun does not work. If you buy your paintball marker at an online paintball store, you are stuck dealing with the manufacturer for warranty.


Dangerous Power Threshold

There is absolutely no difference between buying your paintball gun at any of the big retail stores like Walmart, Joes Sports, Target, Sports Authority, Canadian Tire or any other large retailer. They will just charge more money than what you can buy your paintball gun for online(in most cases). At Red Dot Paintball, you will be guided to resolve your problem with the manufacturer. When a problem arises, we always point the consumer back to the manufacturer. We are selling paintball equipment nationwide and around the world. The consumer is always best to check with the manufacturer if the marker is not working because they can often guide you over the phone, point you to relevant manuals on their websites or give you a return authorization number for repair.

Tippmann's answers the phone quickly, gives you no hassle repairs and offers 24 hour turnaround on their repairs. They just began their 2 year warranty program this year.


We have used Tippmann's warranty for replacing some e-grips and the process was simple and fast. We called in, received the support we needed, sent in our old part and received a new one quickly. On the other hand, we have had some less than perfect service from an unnamed manufacturer. We are looking forward to hearing about your experiences with warranty work as well.

In addition to warranty work, you should be using your manufacturer for other questions you may have. Like where to find the manual online. Be sure to check with them for other questions like the proper use of paintball air tanks (high pressure air or low pressure air)? Is your paintball gun/marker recommended to run on CO2? What kind of lubricant should you use? By following the manufacturers recommendations, you should be able to avoid having warranty work done in the first place.

Paintball - Our First Time

We have heard about all the hype. Paintball is becoming an exciting, exhilarating extreme sport. It is an extreme sport.....sounds intimidating. In fact it is intimidating and this is exactly what this article is about. For those of you wondering about the experience and if you should try it, the answer is a simple yes!! We are going to share our first time experience with you and hopefully, the decision will be an easy one for you to join the ranks of a paintball enthusiast.

There are many approaches to starting out. We offer two for you to consider. Obviously, the approach you take is a personal choice. One is definitely more expensive and risky but it really depends if you are committed to trying the sport or not. The second is cheaper and easy, but may be higher on the intimidation factor as you will not know anything about the equipment before you play.

The first approach is to go to your local field and rent some equipment and get started. This is not the approach we took. We had already decided that paintball was a sport we were going to do no matter what. So in our case, my son and I decided to take the plunge and buy some equipment. He purchased an Ion and I purchased a Tippmann 98 Custom Pro. I decided to immediately upgrade by adding a Cyclone Feed Hopper and an Electronic Trigger. What in the heck was I doing? I had no idea, but the type of person I am makes that decision an easy one. I wanted to know about the marker I was going to use and I thought there would be no better way than to install the upgrades myself. I could have easily purchased one already upgraded but I wanted to learn myself. That is a whole other story that we do not want to get in to here. Rest assured I was able to do it myself. Again, this was my personal approach that you may or may not want to follow.

The second option of owning the equipment first allowed us to spend adequate time at home familiarizing ourselves with the paintball marker and safe handling. We studied the manuals and procedures for loading and unloading. General gun safety applies. Make sure you are not pointing it at anyone and goggles are always worn even when you are just handling the marker. A barrel sleeve is on at all times and if applicable, safety applied or marker powered down. We purchased some reusable v-balls (for some at home backyard fun and learning about firing our markers).

Finally, the weekend arrived and the anticipation and intimidation factor were both peaked. We arrived late to the field and so we were walking in on a scene that had numerous players waiting to start another game. It was raining lightly. We were tempted to just pack up and go back home as we were not sure what to expect. The first thing we did was go to check in with the field operator. He gave us the general run down on what to pay and if we needed to rent equipment. We informed him and others that we were new and that we appreciated their help and guidance. The players were awesome. The field operator told us our markers had to be checked for velocity and we did that. He quickly adjusted the markers to ensure that we were safe and within field limits.

The players decided that the next game would be Woodsball. In woodsball, it is basically as the name sounds - a game in the bush where cover and camo rule. The players were quick to explain the basic rules and mostly safety. Always wear your goggles!!! (A tip here is to buy a good quality double thermal mask. Fogging your mask up and problems with your goggles will take away from the paintball experience.) Walking in towards the field and well away from the field, we were told that from a certain spot we must keep our masks on at all times. When we arrived at the field we split in to teams. My son (aged 12) and I were on a team of 4 against 4 that were decked out with markers, nitrogen, remote lines and camo. Well did I mention our intimidation was peaked!! We had never been hit by a paintball, let alone shoot anyone. We were not army veterans, marksmen, or athletes. We were just a father and son wanting to shoot paintball but at that split moment, we new we were in too far to back out and not far enough to stop. They told us some more basics like what "army rules" meant. The term is used to describe the rule that we would only be out if we were hit on the torso or head (not limbs). They told us not to remove our mask and to raise our arms if surrendering or hit. We were told to walk out with your arms raised until you are off the field. Do not shoot anyone too close and ask them to surrender. If you run out of ammunition or air, you are also out. This would explain why the "intimidator" team had gear belts that held extra paintball "pods" (plastic tubes that hold a fill of paintballs for your loader) and a place for an air tank or extra air tank.

Okay we were positioned. We were split up and both teams had called out to the referee that we were ready to play. It was game on. Instantly the excitement peaked and we were in the game. My son flanked to the left. We stuck together and moved forward until we found some cover. All of our "Call of Duty" online experience flashing before our eyes. Don't give away our position, be patient...ah just shoot!!!! One of us hit a player...a head shot. We both took credit for that one! We felt cocky now. Shooting and exhilarated. I decided to move to another spot. Started to move and then in an instant.......ouch. I was hit in the back and out. I raised my hands over my head and called myself out. Moved to the edge of the field and watched from the sidelines. Reflecting how stupid I had been to just move without being more stealth like. Crap, now I had to wait until the next game. The earlier "ouch", was not too bad. We felt our wounds but they were not very painful. We could describe it as an isolated almost sunburn feeling.

Soon after my son was also hit and he came out. Both of us could not wait to go again and like the first dive in to a pool - our hearts beating with excitement and exhilaration, we were hooked!

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Sweet Paintball Guns!

Everyone has their bias on paintball guns. We want to know what paintball guns you have and why you love them? Or alternatively, which ones you have or had and hate them? It has to be the number one question everyone asks - do you like your gun? Now what we are looking for is not just straight hype. I have a Tippmann 98 Custom Pro. So I could go on about what I love about this gun.....on the other hand, I have a few things that I hate about it too! That is what we want to hear about, the good the bad and the down right ugly! Incidently, most of what I hated about my Tippmann 98 Custom Pro has been upgraded and addressed with the new Tippmann 98 Platinum Series. You can follow the link and see the features and video.

So, let's hear about them, Spyders, Tippmanns, Dangerous Power, Smart Parts, Ego, Angel, Dye, BT, Tiberius Arms, JT, WGP, Invert Mini. It doesn't matter. Tell us about your gun, what you love, what you hate.

Red Dot Paintball Launches Blog

Welcome everyone to our blog! This blog is created in order for us to communicate directly with our customers, paintball players and all paintball enthusiasts. We hope to make it informative and a useful place for us to improve our sport. You are welcome to help us grow our site by making comments and suggestions regarding Red Dot Paintball's website.

We will also be posting information regarding paintball guns, paintball products, reviews, news or highlight our sponsored teams' achievements. We have only been here for just over one year and we are growing fast. We hope you will comment and lend your expertise and paintball experiences for everyone that stops by to benefit.

We will also post pictures and videos on our site and youtube channel for those of you that want to show off!