From: robert@isgtec.com (Robert Osborne)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.paintball
Subject: FAQ Equipment
Date: 26 Aug 92 16:18:28 GMT

Goggles
=======

Do not use goggles that are not specifically designed for the sport of
paintball.  This includes shop goggles, ski goggles, and racquet ball
goggles.

JT Thermals

    Double paned goggles designed to eliminate fogging.
    
    Goggles come with a face mask that protects nose and mouth from
    front shots but can be incorporated into the X-fire system.
    
    Reliable, the reviewers glasses fogged up while the goggles
    remained clear.
    
    It is a very good idea to clean these lenses after each day of play.
    Remove the lense from the goggle frames and wipe all excess paint from
    the lense edges and the gutter of the lense frame with a WATER moistened
    tissue.  Be sure to let dry in a ventilated area.
    
    Do NOT store the goggles in a plastic bag as the seal can break,
    rendering the goggles useless for preventing fogging.
     
UVEX 6800

    These commonly used goggles are NOT recommended for paintball.  The
    manufacturers of UVEX were sued after an incident in California
    when the lenses of a pair of UVEX goggle shattered during a game.
    UVEX has withdrawn from the paintball market and disavows anyone
    using UVEX for paintball.  UVEX never warranted their goggles safe
    for Paintball.


Masks/Helmets
=============

JT X-fire

    The X-fire helmet provides extended coverage for the ears, temple,
    and side of face.  Drawbacks of helmet are it doesn't cover the neck
    or back of the head.

Strategy Helmet

    Also known as the PMI helmet or GOGGS helmet.  A helmet protecting
    the face , ears, and top of the head.  Provides good head
    protection except in the case of neck shots.  Eye protection is
    supplied by a removable Lexan lens. Resembles a full head
    motorcycle helmet.

    Limited ventilation makes fogging caused by breathing a problem.

PMS Mask
      
    Face-mask with ear protection and neck protection.  Provides much
    more coverage than the JT pursuit face shield.  Goggles are
    anchored to the helmet with zip ties.  Mask comes with a detachable
    scarf which serves as a neck protector.

VENTS Predators

    The new VENTS predators are GREAT.

    1) Exceptional peripheral vision you do NOT get from JTs.
    2) Lightweight mask/helmet setup that does not hinder hearing ability.
    3) Covers some of neck, at least the front of the neck.
       (don't let anybody get around on you :-)

Paintball Guns
==============

Quick Reference Chart
---------------------

Ranking:
    1=Excellent, 2=Very Good, 3=Good, 4=Poor 5=Bad

Catagories:
    O:  Overall rating	[1]
    A:	Accuracy	[2]
    C:	Consistancy	[2]
    D:  Distance	[3]
    R:	Reliablity	[4]
    U:	CO2 usage	[5]
    H:	Handling	[6]
    L:  Looks		[7]

+---------------------------------------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| Gun (manufacturer, type)	        | O | A | C | D | R | U | H | L |
+---------------------------------------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| .68 Special (Tippman, semi)           | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 
| 68 Automag (Airgun Design, semi)      | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3*|
| Cobra (Brass Eagle, pump)             | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
+---------------------------------------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| F1 Illustrator (Direct Connect, semi) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Nightmare (Brass Eagle, pump)         | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| PMI Pirhana LB (PMI, pump)            | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
+---------------------------------------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| PMI-Am (Tipmann, semi)                | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | ? |
+---------------------------------------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+

NOTES:
    [1] Should be a aggergate of all other catagories.
    [2] A gun that shoots an occasional wild ball is inconsistant,
	a gun that shoots balls all over the place is inaccurate.
    [3]	At what distance is the gun still accurate/consistant:
	    1=very long (50 yards)
	    2=long (35 yards)
	    3=medium (20 yards)
	    4=short (10 yards)
	    5=very short (<10 yards)
    [4] How reliable is the gun.  Includes ball breakage,
	double feeds, misfires, auto-fire and other problems.
    [5] A lower number indicates a lower usage of CO2.
    [6] Includes balance, weight, and "feel".
    [7] Includes style, sportiness and, of course, intimidation.
	Do opponents tremble at the sight of the gun or do they
	fall down in fits of laughter.

Comments
--------

.68 Special (Tippman, semi)

    A rugged semi-automatic paint chucker.  I daresay the most popular
    semi before the F-1 Illustrator.  Very reliable.  Gravity fed and
    rated at 5 rounds per second.  Breaks balls if the gun is fired
    while tipped sideways or if using old paint (greater than 2 months
    old).  Tippman (the gun manufacturer) has the best product support
    services in the business.  Will fix anything under warranty and
    will make product impovments free of charge (pay shipping one way,
    and they ship it back the same way; overnight express there will
    get overnight express back for very short turnaround times).

    <Ray Alejandro>

68 Automag (Airgun Design, semi)

    This semi-automatic gun is reliable and rugged, maintenance is easy,
    and repairs are easy to diagnose. 

    The Automag is a low pressure blow forward design, with a built in
    air regulator, and high pressure relief valve.  It is totally
    enclosed, and has no cocking lever.  It is manufactured from
    stainless steel and aluminum.  Uses a Bud Orr standard receiver
    frame, and a Bud Orr Barrel which has been anodized black.
    Originally it was designed as breech drop gun and now sports a bore
    drop system.

    The current revision of the gun is level 7.0.   Airgun provides
    *FREE* upgrades for the life of the gun as well as a lifetime
    guarantee.  Level 7.0 further modifies the air chamber making it
    larger and welds it so that it is completly enclosed.  This makes
    the gun less air efficient, if your gun is already at level 6.5 or
    6.6 and are having no problems with it I would not upgrade. 

    I have fired over 400 rounds on one 7oz tank.  The temperature was in
    the 80's.  I have have fired over 300 shots when the temperature was in
    the mid 40's without running out of gas, I refilled my tank before going
    out again.  As with all guns you get less shots when it is colder.

    Ball breakage is minimal; the only time I've had a problem was when
    I was using questionable paint. I have talked with players that have
    experienced ball breakage problems with the automag, this was traced
    to the paint (nelson) being to big for the barrel.  My gun has never
    double fed and have played with others that report the same, one owner
    said that he had double feeds but corrected it by adjusting the ball
    retaining spring on the barrel (called the wire nubbin). The Automag
    never cycles, the design does not permit it. 

    Since liquid CO2 freezes the Teflon O-Rings, turning them into a hard
    plastic that doesn't seal, keeping liquid CO2 out of the gun is very
    important.

    There is no recocking lever on the Automag, it is automatically recocked
    by the bolt spring.  If it does not recock the spring could be worn, the
    bolt dirty or not lubricated enough.

    The Automag should be lubricated sparingly; over lubing gums up the
    works.  I use Dexron automatic transmission fluid and it works
    great. ;-) Airgun recommends a lightweight machine oil like 3in1,
    they do not recommend a lubricant with a penetrant since the
    penetrants will usually eat the o-rings.

    I normally shoot from the hip, but I also hit what I'm aiming for.  I've
    shot people from about 30 yards away as they were running away from from
    me on the first shot.  It is not as accurate as some pumps (Like a Bud Orr
    Sniper, but I've never seen anything with the accuracy of the Sniper.)

    The Automag would look better without that hose sticking out of the
    side but we have learn to live with that.

    Accessories:
    Power Feed)
    	This bounces balls into the bore as fast as you can
	shoot.  The main drawback is that it blocks sighting
	down the barrel unless you have a raised sight rail.
	$50 factory modification.
    Crown Point Barrel)
    	A muzzle break by another name.  Not as good as a Smart Parts
	Barrel, but half the price.
    Nitrogen Air Tank)
    	Very constant velocity, very expensive.
    Anti-Siphon Bottle)
    	Keeps liquid CO2 out of the gun.

    <Charles Anderson>

Cobra (Brass Eagle, pump)

    Like all Brass Eagle products there have been many complaints
    about manufacturing defects.   I have had little problem with
    mine and know several others who have had similarily satisfactory
    experiences with this gun.   I would advise against buying these
    guns unless good customer support/service is available from
    the supplier.

    <Rob Osborne>

F1 Illustrator (Direct Connect, semi)

    Breakage: very few after gun broken-in (some claim never)
    Reliability: very reliable and easy, low maintenance.
    C02 usage: 350-400 rounds.
    Best Feature: extremely lightweight
     (from owners manual: 1.8 lbs, plus magazine and C02 bottle)

    <Kevin D. Thomas>

Nightmare (Brass Eagle, pump) 

    The name is,  unfortanatly,  well choosen.   The five guns I've had
    exposure to are all unreliable and tend to jam and break balls
    repeatedly.   Ball feed is breach drop from a tube parallel to the
    barrel requiring the gun to be tipped up to load.  They perform
    poorly in cold weather.  The gun is poor choice for inexperienced
    players.

    <Rob Osborne>

PMI Pirhana LB (Long Barrel)

    A rugged, reliable CA pump gun design that has been around for a
    very long time.  Solid, rugged feel that can be dropped and kicked
    (not recommended) and still function extremely well.
    Very accurate.  250-300 shots per 7 oz. CO2.

    Recommended Accessories:
	Barrel extension (6 inches)
	Velocity adjuster

    <Ray Alejandro>

Pro-Am (Tipmann, semi)

    No major problems means a very good rating.
    [Balls] went where I aimed, close groups.
    400 shots didn't completely empty full 7oz. tank.
    Weight somewhere between an F1 and a VM68.
    No breakage in 500+ rounds of Tracer.

    <Dave Rotheroe>

Contributors:
    Charles Anderson	caa@com2serv.c2s.mn.org
    Dave Rotheroe	rotheroe@convex.com
    Henry Chan		henryc@panix.com
    Kevin D. Thomas     thomas@asl.dl.nec.com
    Ray Alejandro	alejanrd@rhit.edu
    Robert Osborne	robert@isgtec.com
--
Robert A. Osborne   ...!uunet.ca!isgtec!robert or robert@isgtec.com