Paintball can be one of the safest sports to play if you just FOLLOW THE RULES. Always wearing a mask, using barrel plugs and a little common sense will keep paintball fun and safe for all involved.
For about a week now there's been a rumor going around that Smart Parts will be closing its doors at the end of the year. Similar rumors have popped up in the past, especially when they laid off numerous employees earlier this year. Previously, though, Smart Parts released an official statement that discounted the rumors, but nothing has come up this time and store owners report an inability to order products. If Smart Parts has an official statement to make about the status of their company, I'd be happy to publish it - just contact me.
Whether or not Smart Parts is dying, the fact that the rumor seems so plausible is just another indication of the current troubles of the paintball industry. A few years ago it would have been unthinkable for one of the largest and longest-lived paintball companies to close its doors, but now I almost expect a major manufacturer to announce plans to end its operations. When Smart Parts released the Ion a few years ago, it really was at the top of the paintball world. Of course, at that time, GM was also still the world's largest auto producer. Times have changed.
Many paintball guns are created with the idea that they will later be customized to suit the individual user's preferences. Each person, though, has different reasons for customizing their gun as they do. Now you have a chance to share your customized paintball gun with the world and explain exactly what you did to get the results you did. Additionally, feel free to share advice and tips to people who might want to copy some of your work. It's cool to look at customized guns, but it's even better to know the story behind them. Share your customized gun with others or view what others have done with their guns.
I frequently get asked which brand of paintball gun a beginner should buy. While it always depends on the individual person and the situation, I do have a general answer. After talking about Tippmanns, Piranhas and the like, I usually suggest a Spyder paintball gun for a few reasons.
68 Caliber has a video featuring the Cal State Northride paintball team. It's a simple video, but it's a great summary of the sport and a good introduction for people who's never played. Plus, what better school project is there than working on paintball?
