Countless paintball guns have been made and sold throughout the world in the past 30 years. From the early Nel-Spot pumps to semi-automatic Spyders to modern electros there have been some guns that have been very influential and affected the direction of the sport. I have owned and shot many different guns that were made from about 1990 onward and I definitely have some favorites and some guns that I wouldn't recommend to anyone. But this isn't about favorites, it's about influence and what guns I think have most affected the paintball industry.
1. Tippmann Model 98/98 Custom
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Tippmann didn't revolutionize paintball technology or create a new genre of gun with the Model 98 but it did create an extremely reliable, durable, easy to use and customizable gun that, coupled with its low price, has introduced countless players to the sport, helping the game grow from an eclectic past time to a world-wide sport. More than 10 years after it debuted this semi-automatic, blow-back gun is still a standard for entry-level players and is customizable enough to please even the most die hard mil-sim fans.
2. Smart Parts Shocker
Originally released as a joint venture with pneuVentures in 1996, the Shocker ushered in the age of the electropneumatic paintball gun. For the first time paintball guns were able to fire without manual controls and instead sensitive triggers attached to electronic solenoids were used. While the original Shockers are referred to as "Shoebox Shockers" thanks to their size and shape, they did show the world the possibilities that electropneumatic paintball guns offer.3. Smart Parts Ion
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Similar to what the Tippmann Model 98 did for mechanical guns the Smart Parts Ion did for electropneumatic guns. This spool-valve based electro brought the tournament level gun into the price range of the average consumer and helped equalize the playing field. From the time of its release forward even introductory players could now compete without being severely out-gunned. The Ion also forced other companies to develop high-end products at a low price which has had profound effects on the industry.
