From: ABlainey@aol.com
Date: Mon Dec 16 2002 - 05:33:06 MST
In a message dated 15/12/02 20:05:09 GMT Standard Time, spike66@attbi.com
writes:
> A number of questions come to mind. What is electronic
> about a paintball marker? What does the LCD display
> actually do? Trigger response was improved over what?
> Did it fail to mark before the improved 5.0 version?
> Increased rate of fire? Should it not be increased
> rate of mark? Expansion chamber? Is that what we
> 4.0 users once called a barrel? Volumizer? I am at a
> complete loss for an explanation. & More? Why are they
> dragging Max and Natasha into this?
>
I will shed some light on these questions for you.
modern paintball markers are now controlled by microprocessors. These actuate
3-way, 5-way and even 14-way solenoid valves that fire the Gun, oops sorry
'Marker'.
The rate of fire and efficiency of the Gun, ooops marker is controlled by
electronics rather than mechanics. This makes them highly efficient giving
upto 1300 rounds from one gas fill, firing at 300 feet per second at rates of
up to 20 rounds per second.
In addition, The Hoppers (ammo holder) and Gas systems on high end markers
are also electronic.
The LCD indicates the state of the 'Ultra slaughtering death sprayer' oops I
mean marker and also indicates all the variables that can be set, like Dwell,
Rate of fire, etc. The expansion chamber in the marker you saw is because it
runs on CO2. This must be in gas form in order for the marker to use it. The
CO2 in the gas bottle is liquid so an expansion chamber is used to expand it
to a gas before use.
The volumiser is a small expansion chamber that increases the amount of gas
behind the valve. This reduces drop off in pressure when the marker is
rapidly fired.
The trigger has been tuned for a shorter lighter pull, which increases rate
of fire and accuracy.
The technology level of paintball markers is far beyond any other firearms
and this level of marker is designed for mid level tournament use rather than
the stereotypical woodland battle. Paintball is rapidly moving out of the
woods for several reasons. One is the environmental aspect of 'nutters with
guns' trampling the forest, but the main reason is that nearly all Paintball
tournaments are now held in flat fields full of inflatable geometrically
shaped barricades. The highest level tournaments are held at sport stadiums
or arenas.
>Finally, it occurred to me that all this pointless debate
>over gun control could be easily put to rest simply by
>having all firearms renamed markers, for there are no
>marker control laws. We could have fully automatic
>markers, zip markers, shot markers, hot glue markers,
>marker shows, son of a marker, etc. A whole new
>industry would be born, just reprinting billions of
>bumper stickers: They can have my marker when they
>pry it from my cold dead fingers, etc.
I think the whole Gun/Marker argument is just a bit of Anal PR spinning.
Technically Markers are just airguns. I think normal firearms should be
called "Remote perforation delivery systems"
Alex.
PS I already have that bumper sticker :o)
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