Ahab links to paintball guns that look like Kalashnikovs. Oddly enough, they are variants on the same type of paintball gun I have. I do occasionally play, but I have to admit this is kind of silly. Painball has absolutely nothing to do with marksmanship or equipment. It’s all tactics.
I’ve shot expensive paintball guns and cheap ones, and it all comes down to the fact that you can’t get a liquid filled gelatin ball to go in a consistent direction no matter what fancy things you imagine your gun does to it. Paintball guns that look like real ones tend to be impractical, because the mask you need to wear when playing prevents a reasonable cheek weld, and aiming doesn’t really do you any good anyway.
I have to argue just a touch with “Paintball guns that look like real ones tend to be impractical”. Although the points you raise are valid, they DO have an important use…
Psychology.
I was playing at an outdoor field in MN, against guys with ‘Cockers and ‘Mags. I had a fairly bare-bones Spyder, that I had added a stock and red dot to (carried the whole thing in an old aluminum briefcase).
The effect on the other players was insane.
Guys with guns that cost 5 times as much freaked, thinking I had something uber-tacticool. And that translated out on the field, to mistakes that helped my side win quite a few games we shouldn’t have.
There ARE some thing about markers that are different. but, for the most part, I think it’s all psychology: the thought “I have an Autococker, so I’m more accurate!” leading to the player being that lil’ bit better…
Paintball guns are smoothbores, right? About as accurate as a Brown Bess?
Yep, though various manufacturers puts vents in their barrels that they claim simulates rifling (I don’t buy it). Probably less accurate than a musket, because the balls aren’t heavy, nor perfectly round.