“One Shot One Kill”: Sniper Paintball Guns
Tom Berenger said it, or did he? If you can quote lines from that movie, Sniper, or others like Full Metal Jacket, Platoon, Blackhawk Down, or Jarhead, then you are fully aware that “one shot one kill” is more than a great line from a movie. It is, in fact, the mantra of those elite military men known as snipers.
Today, those who are interested in living out the exciting world of snipers with minimal risk of injury can do so by joining one of the fastest growing sports in the United States—paintball! Within the world of paintball, there are many who enjoy the role of stealthy sniper. The most important piece of equipment he owns is his carefully selected sniper paintball gun.
Important Pre-Selection Details:
Now, you may not be singing “this is my rifle, this is my gun” or need the hard heart to kill that R. Lee Ermey describes in Full Metal Jacket to join this sport, but you do need a good sniper paintball gun. The first step in choosing a good sniper paintball gun is in understanding the ins and outs of accuracy as it relates to barrel length.
The shorter the barrel, the less accurate the shot will be. Ideally, then, a good sniper will choose a sniper paintball gun with a barrel longer than eight inches. If your dream is to shoot through undergrowth, around trees, towers or tops of buildings, then a longer barrel, ten to fourteen inches, is ideal for you.
Weather and Other Factors:
Because your sniper paintball gun is powered by gas, weather is an important consideration. In the summer months when the gas in your tank will expand, a shorter barrel may be used. By contrast a longer barrel will be needed in wintertime to maintain that “one shot one kill” rule. Also, on cloudy or overcast days, your barrel needs to be longer to compensate for the lower atmospheric pressure and maintain accuracy.
Along with considering your local weather, it is important to note that shorter barrels allow for easier movement on the field of play, and do not guzzle the gas the way a longer barrel will. This means that to save the money for gas you will sacrifice accuracy. You may consider, then, purchasing one of each so that you get the most out of your sniper paintball adventures.
Some Popular Sniper Paintball Guns:
There are a variety of different sniper paintball guns available. However, one of the most well-known manufacturers is the Tippmann, which offers a variety of guns. Tippmann focuses on play in wooded areas, and offers some excellent longer barreled rifles designed to meet the stealthy accuracy desired by snipers. The range of weapons manufactured by this company includes the basic A-5 to the A-5 Stealth Sniper and even a flatline system that will allow you to crab crawl through the brush.
Another well-known brand is the Ariakon. This company focuses on a variety of paintball guns to include pistols and rifles. A SIM 4 sniper paintball gun, however, may be modified with the purchase of a SIM 4 Quick Release Sniper Barrel to effectively add up to six inches. This may be ideal for the beginning paintballer interested in getting the most out of his Berenger-like adventures regardless of season or weather conditions.