Paintball Terms

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ACTION
1. The mechanism by which something is operated, as that of a gun.
2. A military encounter, as a battle or skirmish.
3. Actual combat with enemy forces.

ASA
The abbreviation for Air Source Adapter. See “ASA Adapter”.

ASA ADAPTER
Also referred to as CA Adapter. A device that is designed to allow a constant air tank to screw into it and let the Co2 gas in the tank pass through it. In most cases, the ASA Adapter is designed with a actuating pin. When used with a constant air tank that has a pin valve, the ASA Adapter pin actuator presses in the pin valve’s pin and allows the flow of Co2 gas from the tank into and through the ASA Adapter. The gas then goes to the paintball markers valve mechanism either directly or indirectly via some type of gas line.

AUTOCOCKER

AUTO, FULL
Continuous firing and reloading of paintball gun as long as the trigger is held down.

AUTO, SEMI
1. Partly automatic.
2. Automatically recocking of paintball marker and loading the next paintball but requiring a squeeze of the trigger to fire each shot.

AUTO TRIGGER
A trigger and sear design used with pump action paintball guns, that allows the user of the paintball marker to have the marker fire each time the pump handle is pulled back allowing gun mechanism to be cocked and then pulled full forward. The marker will fire automatically when pump handle is returned to full forward position each time the pump handle is cycled from front to rear and back as long as the trigger is being held down.

BACK BOTTLE SYSTEM
Refers to a constant air system design whereby the marker’s ASA adapter is located at the rear of the paintball marker and that is where the constant air tank is attached. The constant air tank is used as the gun’s shoulder stock and may or may not have a butt plate attached to it. Pump action paintball markers usually have the ASA adapter in-line with the barrel and cocking mechanism. Semi Auto paintball guns usually have the ASA adapter in-line with cocking mechanism.

BACK BOTTLE ADAPTER
An ASA adapter which is attached to the rear of a paintball marker, that is used to connect a gas supply to the gun and is usually in line with either the barrel/cocking mechanism or just the cocking mechanism.

BARREL PLUG
A safety device that is inserted into the front end of a paintball marker barrel to prevent a paintball from exiting the barrel.

BARREL CONDOM/SOCK  A bag that fits over the business end of the marker's muzzle. It prevents projectiles from accidentally leaving the gun.

BARREL, RIFLED, INTERNAL
A barrel that has internal grooves, either straight or in a spiral pattern.

BOLT
The internal part of a paintball marker that is common to Stock, Pump Action and Semi Auto paintball markers. The bolt usually has a O-ring(s) at the front end of it. The O-ring acts as a seal between the bolt and the inner wall of the paintball marker barrel when the bolt is in the full forward position. The bolt performs two functions
1. It is the device that moves the paintball from where it is loaded into the chamber of the paintball marker, to the bore of the paintball gun barrel.
2. It is the device by which Co2 gas is transferred from the paintball gun valve system to the rear of the paintball via the front of the bolt.

BOLT (closed)
One of two design criteria by which semi auto paintball markers are manufactured. The closed bolt design means that the bolt is in the full forward position with the bolt O-ring sealing against the inner wall of the paintball gun barrel when gun is ready to be fired via the trigger. This is with respect to the paintball gun being connected to a Co2 gas supply (constant air tank or remote air system) and fully pressurized.

BOLT (open)
One of two design criteria by which semi auto paintball guns are manufactured. The open bolt design means that the bolt is in the full rear position with the bolt just behind the feed nipple port (the port that allows the paintballs to flow into the paintball gun body) when paintball gun is ready to be fired via the trigger. This is with respect to the paintball gun being connected to a Co2 gas supply (constant air tank or remote air system) and fully pressurized.

BOLT, VENTURI
A bolt with a concave face. The face of the bolt will have multiple holes in it. These holes are known as thrust ports.

BORE DROP LOADING
Guns using bore systems load into a receiver the same size as the barrel or directly into the barrel itself. This keeps the ball from having to load over any large seams or steep angles.

BOTTLE
1. Slang for tank.
2. A portable container for holding liquids or gases, having a neck and mouth.
3. In paintball it is the container part of a constant air tank.

BLOW BACK
paintball gun’s leakage of Co2 gases between the bolt and the inner barrel wall and/or leakage of Co2 gases from the cocking mechanism between the gun’s hammer and inner wall of the gun’s housing. Blowback may occur for two reasons. First, and easiest to fix, is that the O-rings on the gun’s bolt and/or hammer need to be replaced. The second reason for blowback is more complex. It has to do with the positioning of the gun’s components at the time that the Co2 gas is released into the gun’s barrel.

BOTTOM LINE
A style of constant air system where the ASA adapter is located at the bottom of the paintball gun’s grip frame. This ASA adapter is where the constant air tank is connected to the paintball gun. The ASA adapter may be designed into the grip frame so as to be part of the grip frame or it may be a after market ASA adapter that is mounted to the bottom of the grip frame. If it is a after market ASA adapter it will have to have a gas line connecting it to the paintball gun in order to allow gas to flow from the tank into and through the ASA adapter to the gas line and then to the paintball gun.

B.P.S.
Abreviation for ball per second. Generally used to explain shooting speed of a marker.

BREECH DROP LOADING
Guns using breech loading systems load into an area larger than the inner diameter of the barrel. The ball must then be up into the barrel.

BREECH LOCK SYSTEM
A design that prevents the paintball gun from being accidentally pumped twice before it is fired once. Breech locking guns must be fired before the gun can be pumped again.

BUTT PLATE
A device that fits on to the end of a tank allowing it to be used as a shoulder stock.

BUNKER (noun) - An object or embankment on the field that a player uses for cover.

BUNKER (verb) - To charge a bunker and eliminate (hopefully), at close range, any players hiding behind it.

CALIBER
With respect to a paintball the diameter of a circular section. With reference to a paintball gun the diameter of the bore of a gun taken as a unit of measurement.

CALIFORNIA STYLE
A style of constant air system developed in California in the late 1980’s that consisted of a paintball gun, a ‘L’ shape shoulder stock with a constant air tank holder located on the bottom side of it, a constant air tank of either 7 or 10 ounce in size with a Thermo on/off valve that would be held in the shoulder stock’s tank holder and a hose with fittings that would connect the tank to the paintball gun.

CARBON DIOXIDE
Also known as CO2. A colorless, odorless, incombustible gas that has many purposes such as dry ice, the carbonation in carbonated beverages, and in fire extinguishers. CO2 is present in the atmosphere and formed during respiration. CO2 is a compound gas made of oxygen and carbon. CO2 stores it’s energy when it is in a liquid state and releases it into a usable force through expansion into a gas. Used in paintball guns as a pressurized gas (power source) for shooting paintballs out of the paintball gun’s barrel. With respect to semi auto paintball guns, CO2 is also used for recocking the paintball gun.

CGA
Denotes Compressed Gas Association. Usually used to refer to a cylinder valve outlet connection detailed in the CGA pamphlet V-1.

CHECK VALVE
Allows substance (such as gas, liquid or solids) to flow in only one direction. Once passed the check valve the substance cannot flow back through check valve.

CHRONOGRAPH (Chrono)
Electronic device that measures the speed of an object directed across it.

CO2
The abbreviation for Carbon Dioxide.

CONSTANT AIR
A terminology developed in California in the late 1980’s. It refers to the use of a refillable gas tank that is connected to a paintball gun and supplies the CO2 gas necessary to power the operation of the gun. The term “Constant Air” was derived from the fact that the paintball gun would have a prolonged supply of gas and would be able to get 300–1000 shots per tank of gas, depending on size of tank and type of gun. This was opposed to paintball guns that used 12 gram CO2 cartridges and only got 15–25 shots per cartridge on the average.

CRITICAL TEMPERATURE
The temperature above which liquid phase cannot exist.

CRITICAL PRESSURE
The saturation vapor pressure at the Critical Temperature.

CYCLE RATE
Indicates the number of cycles a paintball gun can perform per second.

DETENT, BALL
Sometimes called ball stop, anti-doubler, wire nubbin. A device that keeps no more than one paintball from loading into the chamber of a paintball gun when the paintball gun is executing one cycle. It does this by maintaining the paintball in a stationary position until the paintball guns bolt pushes the paintball into the barrel of the gun.

DEW POINT
The temperature and pressure at which the liquefaction of a vapor begins.

DIRECT FEED
A system by which paintballs are fed directly into the paintball gun chamber or barrel via a feed nipple. The feed nipple is usually fastened to side of the paintball gun at a 45 degree angle. Feed nipples on pump action guns are usually 1” in diameter and feed nipples on semi auto paintball guns are usually 7/8” in diameter.

DISK, RUPTURE
A small copper disk in the valve of a tank that is designed to rupture if the pressure in the tank becomes too great. The rupture disk is usually held in place by a safety plug that has vent holes in it.

DONKEY
Slang for ASA Adapter.

DOT
Abbreviation for Department of Transportation whose Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations regulate the movement of hazardous materials.

DOUBLE ACTION
Requiring only one pull of the trigger to cock and fire.

ELBOW
Slang for hopper adapter.

EXPANSION CHAMBER
A device which conditions CO2 gas by allowing it to expand before it enters the paintball gun’s valve system.

FEED NIPPLE
Also known as feed port. The feed nipple is a short tube that is connected to the paintball gun housing at an angle of 45 degrees. It provides the passage by which paintballs move from the paintball hopper, through the hopper adapter, which attaches to the feed nipple, and into the chamber of the paintball gun. Commonly, feed nipples for pump action paintball guns are one inch in diameter, while semi auto paintball guns have seven eighths inch feed nipples.

FEED PLUG
A plug at the bottom of a power feeder that angles the balls into the feed port. It can also be turned to stop the balls from feeding into your gun.

FEED TUBE
A paintball storage container tubular in form, closed at one end and open at other end with some type of lid covering the opening. When playing paintball the player uses the feed tube to reload his paintball gun’s hopper.

FEEDER
Slang for hopper.

FILL STATION
An apparatus consisting of at least one valve used for exhausting pressurized fill hose, a fill hose and some type of fill adapter for connecting a constant air tank to one end of the hose. It is used for filling smaller constant air tanks with liquid CO2 from larger siphon fill tank. The large siphon fill tank is usually 50 to 60 pounds in volume weight.

FITTING, ELBOW, (90 DEGREE)
A fitting that allows the connection of two items at a 90 degree angle to each other. Such as a CA hose to make a ASA adapter or paintball gun.

FLAG STATION
With reference to the game of paintball, this is a team’s base camp and is the location where a team’s flag is kept. It is also the location where a team must return the opposing team’s flag in order to win the game.

FLANK
1. The extreme right or left side of an army or fleet.
2. To stand or be placed or posted at the flank or side of.
3. To defend or guard at the flank.
4. To menace or attack the flank of.

FOGGING UP
This refers to those times when a person’s breathing and lack of movement will cause the lenses of a persons goggles to fog over, severely reducing visibility.

FORE GRIP
A horizontal grip generally located on the front of a gun. This grip is generally grasped with the players off hand; i.e. the hand not on the trigger frame; to stabilize the gun for shooting.

F.P.S.
Abbreviation for ‘feet per second’. This is the standard method in the U.S. for determining the speed at which a paintball gun is shooting.

GAS EFFICIENCY
Refers to the amount of shots a gun gets in relation to the amount of liquid CO2 it uses. Similar to miles per gallon; i.e. getting 350 shots from a seven ounce constant air tank.

GOGGLES
Eye protection worn by players to prevent eye damage. Paintball goggles are specifically designed for the sport of paintball and should not be substituted with goggles made for any other application other than paintball.

GOING LIQUID
Refers to liquid CO2 entering the paintball gun before it has had a chance to expand into a gas or vapor.

GRIPS
Components that fit on the paintball gun grip frame and provide surface area by which the shooter may grip the gun. Grips are replaceable on many types of paintball guns. Different styles of grips can provide greater comfort and ease of use for the individual paintball player. Different styles of grips include rubber, wood, and wraparound types.

GUPPY
Slang for Hopper feed tube.

HAMMER
Also known as The lower bolt or the striker. This component, when released from the cocked position, strikes the valve assembly and forces it open. When this striking of the valve assembly by the hammer occurs, CO2 is allowed to pass through the valve assembly from the gas source to the paintball gun barrel.

HAMMER (DOWN)
Refers to pulling the trigger, putting paint on someone is a sudden and intense manner, seizing the moment on offense by showering a target with paint.

HAMMER SEAR
The part of a gun that retains the hammer in a fixed position, usually under main spring pressure. When the trigger is pulled by the shooter’s finger, it pushes against the sear allowing it to release the hammer and thus allowing the hammer to strike the valve assembly.

HARNESS
The combination of straps, pouches and other parts forming the working gear worn by a paintball player to carry paintball, CO2 cartridges, tanks, squeegee and anything else he/she requires to play the game of paintball.

HOSE
In paintball a hose is used to transfer gas from one component to another. Such as from a constant air tank to a ASA adapter on a paintball gun.

HONE
A tool that is mechanically rotated and has abrasive tip(s) for polishing or enlarging holes to precise dimensions.

HOPPER
A container used to hold paintballs, usually with a lid that covers the opening where the paintballs are loaded into it, and has a feed nipple at it’s bottom.

HOSING
Refers to consistent rapid firing. A tactic typically used when pinning down an opposing player.

HPA Compressed Air High-pressure compressed air (3000 to 4500 psi) is usually used instead of CO2 in tournament paintball. The use of HPA requires specialized high pressure tanks and regulators, which lower the output pressure to what paintball guns need.

HYDROSTATIC TEST
A container test required at definite intervals by DOT to determine the wall thickness via measuring elastic expansion. Purpose of the test is to assure the container is safe for continued use.

I.D.
Abbreviation for inner diameter.

IN-LINE CONFIGURATION
Refers to the manner in which the bolt and hammer of a paintball gun are positioned in relation to each other. An in-line configuration indicates that the bolt and hammer are in line with each other one behind the other.

LENSES, THERMAL
A dual lens system. The outer lens is made of a super hard polycarbonate material. The inner lens is made of a different polycarbonate composition that allows anti fog jell coat to stick to it. The two lenses are attached to each other by means of a rubber gasket that makes an airtight seal between the two. The space between the two lenses is called a thermal barrier and helps to reduce fogging on the inner lens.

LOADER
Slang for hopper feed tube.

LIQUID
Slang for CO2 in liquid form.

MUZZLE
The mouth, or end for discharge, of the barrel of a gun, pistol, etc.

MUZZLE BREAK
1. A pattern of holes or slots machined into the end of a barrel that act as exhaust ports.
2. A machined add on part with a pattern of holes or slots machined into it that fastens to the end of a barrel either by press fit or set screw fatteners.

MUZZLE VELOCITY
The speed at which a paintball is traveling when it leaves the muzzle of a paintball gun barrel.

NELSON BASED
Refers to pump guns (most pump guns) that were designed after the original 007. Nelson based guns have an in-line bolt and hammer system.

NITROGEN (N2)
Refers to Nitrogen gas. A colorless, odorless, relatively non-reactive gas which is compressed to high pressures. The difference between Nitrogen gas and CO2 is that Nitrogen is measured by pressure while CO2 is measured by weight.

N.P.T.
Refers to normal temperature and pressure which is defined as 700 F and 14.696 PSI.

O.D.
Abbreviation for Outer Diameter. Outer diameter refers to distance across an object.

O-RING
A ring of pliable material, as rubber or neoprene, used as a gasket.

OFFSET SIGHT RAIL
A sight rail that is mounted at an angle away from top dead center of paintball gun body. The off set sight rail allows a sight to be mounted so that it is unobstructed by other parts of the paintball gun.

PAINTBALL
A round capsule filled with brightly colored water-soluble dye that is designed to break upon impact leaving a splat mark on the object it hits. Paintball sizes are .50 Cal., .62 Cal. and .68 Cal., the last being the most current size and readily available. The .68 caliber paintball offers much better range, accuracy, and breakability due to its’ size and mass.

PAINTBALL GUN
A mechanical device, usually powered by CO2 gas, used to propel paintballs. Sometimes called a marker.

PAINT CHECK
The time at which a player is checked for splat mark(s). A paint check may be called by referee or player, but may be only invoked by a referee and game may only be restarted by referee. Misuse of the paint check rule by a player is cause for that player to be removed from current game.

POWER FEED
A feed nipple design that incorporates the blowback from the paintball gun to increase the rate at which paintballs are fed into the paintball gun. Most power feeds are designed into the paintball guns, but there are some after market bolt on power feeds available for guns like the VM-68 series of paintball gun and others.

POWERLET
An icon developed by the air gun industry for CO2 cartridge. In paintball, it refers to 12 gram CO2cartridge.

PRESSURE REGULATOR
Regulates the pressure of gas flowing through it. Some regulators are preset to psi, and some are adjustable.

PSI
Abbreviation for pounds per square inch.

PULL PIN
A pin fastener which can be removed quickly to speed disassembly of a player’s paintball gun.

QUICK CHANGER
A device that is either a part of the paintball gun or a separate unit that connects to the gun, usually via the ASA adapter. It allows the rapid loading and unloading of a 12 gram CO2 cartridge.

QUICK DISCONNECT
Usually made of stainless steel or brass, this unit is composed of two parts, a male fitting and a female coupler that connect together to form an airtight connection. In paintball the quick disconnect is used by the player to quickly disconnect the CO2 source, such as a remote system, from the paintball gun.

RECEIVER
The main body of a paintball gun where the bolt and hammer are usually housed. A gun’s feed nipple is typically a part of your receiver.

REMOTE SYSTEM
Also known as a “Remote” or “Remote Set-Up”. The system usually consists of a constant air tank that is carried on the player’s body, usually in a pouch or fanny pack, and a high pressure gas line with quick disconnect and all the fittings required to connect it to the paintball gun.

RETICLE
A network of fine lines, wires, or the like placed in the focus of the eyepiece of an optical instrument. The crosshairs of a scope.

RIFLING, EXTERNAL
Also know as External porting. With reference to paintball gun barrels, it is a spiral hole pattern which is drilled into the barrel. When a paintball is shot through a ported barrel, the ports allow the air in front of the paintball to escape as the paintball pushes forward. The loss of air restriction in front of the paintball allows the paintball to shoot straighter and further. The barrel porting also breaks up the sound made when the gun is fired, thus the paintball gun operates much quieter.

RIFLING, INTERNAL
Grooves or raised points in a barrel that are either straight or spiraled in pattern.

SHERIDAN BASED
Refers to those guns that are based on or are similar to the original Sheridan family of guns. A Sheridan based gun is generally discernible by its stacked design. The hammer and valve system are in the lower section while the bolt is in the upper section.

SIGHT RAIL
Allows the mounting of a sighting system to a paintball gun.

SIGHT RAIL, RAISED
A sight rail that is raised up off the body of the gun. The purpose for this is to allow the shooter a better field of view.

SIGHT, RED DOT
An optical sighting device powered by a battery that produces a red dot reticle. Red dot sights do not project a dot on target.

SIGHT RINGS
Adapters to mount your sight to the sight rail. (Note. Different rings are required to mount different sights to different guns.)

SKIRMISH
1. A fight between small bodies of troops.
2. Any brisk conflict or encounter.

SKIRMISH LINE
1. The invisible line between two opposing teams that have confronted each other.
2. A formation taken where by players are positioned beside each other in a line.

SLIMED BARREL
Slang for when a ball has broken in the barrel of a paintball gun and coated it with paint. A slimed barrel will not shoot straight.

SPECIFIC HEAT
Amount of heat required to raise a unit mass of substance one degree of temperature at either constant pressure or constant volume. Usually expressed in BTU per pound per degree F.

SPECIFIC VOLUME
Volume of a unit mass of substance at a given temperature. Expressed as cubic feet per pound at 700 F.

Speedball Speedball is a game played on small fields with little natural cover. Bunkers usually consist of wooden pallets, tires or other man-made barricades. Speedball fields are designed to allow spectators to see the action. The first speedball field was set up at SC Village in Corona, CA.

SPLATTER
The residue sprayed on a player by a paintball when it makes impact with a object close to that player.

SPRING, MAIN
The spring that drives the hammer.

SPRING VALVE
The spring that closes the valve after it has been opened by the hammer.

SQUAD
Any small group of persons engaged in a common enterprise; a team or sub-group within a team.

SQUEEGEE
A device used to clean the barrel of a paintball gun.

STACKED CONFIGURATION
Refers to the manner in which the bolt and hammer are positioned in relation to each other inside the paintball gun receiver. A stacked configuration indicates that the bolt and hammer are stacked one on top of the other.

STICK FEED
A gravity feeder, usually made out of PVC material, which holds the balls stacked in a line one on top of the other.

STOCK ‘L’
A shoulder stock that is shaped like an ‘L’ laying on its side. This stock usually fastens to the bottom of the paintball gun’s grip frame and may have a constant air tank holder attached to it.

STOCK ‘T’
A shoulder stock that is shaped like a ‘T’ laying on its side. This stock usually fastens to the bottom of the paintball gun’s grip frame and may have a constant air tank holder attached to it.

SUPPRESSOR
A tubular device that is press fitted onto the front end of a paintball gun barrel designed to reduce the amount of sound that is made by the gun when it is fired. Also known as Silencer.

TANK, CHILLED
Refers to a tank that has become very cold due to rapid pressure loss. This may be caused by rapid firing or purposefully releasing the remaining air pressure in a tank. (Note, a tank must be chilled before it can be filled with CO2).

TANK, CONSTANT AIR
A container or structure for holding a liquid or gas. In paintball, a tank is made up from two components, a valve and a bottle.

TANK, ANTI-SIPHON
A tank designed to allow only vaporous CO2 gas to exit the tank through the tank valve.

TANK, SIPHON
A tank specifically designed to draw liquid CO2 from the bottom of the tank. This is accomplished by a gas line that is attached to rear end of the tank valve and weighting down the other end of the gas line so that it remains located in the bottom area of the tank.

THREAD SAVER
Also know as Bottle cap. A protective cap that screws onto a tank valve. This keeps the valve from being damaged while not in use.

TOOL, VELOCITY ADJUSTING
Also called Adjusting tool. A tool used specifically for adjusting the velocity of a paintball gun.

TOURNAMENT CAP
A cap which covers a gun’s velocity adjuster so that the velocity cannot be adjusted during game play, normally required for tournament play.

TRIGGER SHOE
Aftermarket product that fits on the trigger of a gun to provide the trigger finger with more surface area to grip the trigger and comfortable feel.

TWELVE GRAM
Slang for 12 gram CO2 cartridge.

TUBE, PAINTBALL
A small cigar-like tube used to carry 10 paintballs.

TUNNEL VISION
Refers to a player who has focused so intently on the player or players directly in front of him that he is not aware of players moving to the side of him.

UN (United Nations) Number
The DOT (Department of Transportation) Number found on the Cylinder (bottle) label. For example UN1066, the “UN” prefix to this number indicates that 1066 is recognized throughout the world as identifying nitrogen. Sometimes “NA” (North America) will appear as a prefix. NA numbers are recognized in the USA and Canada.

VELOCITY ADJUSTER
A component of a paintball gun (usually a set screw) that when turned in either clockwise or counter clockwise direction will increase or decrease the paintball guns muzzle velocity.

VALVE
Any device for halting or controlling the flow of something, such as a gas or liquid, through a pipe, out of a bottle neck, or other passage.

VALVE PORTING
The enlarging or drilling of additional holes in a valve body so that more gas will be released when valve system is opened.

VALVE SYSTEM
All the internal parts in the paintball gun which control the flow of gas through the paintball gun.

WRENCH, ALLEN
A hexagonal tool which comes in various sizes and is used to turn screw fasteners such as hex or button head screws. They are also used to turn anything that has a hexagonal hole. In paintball they are used to adjust the paintball gun’s velocity as well as disassemble it.