biggest step in PB tech??

Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic

 an94 wrote:

lets say all manufacturers have a standard bolt, standard barrel, standard speed. that would be a good advancement.. it would get rid of all the "my gun is better than your gun!" why dont they do this??? like ALL go with AC barrel thread, etc.

They don't do it, because all of the things you just mentioned are what sell markers. If we all played with the same marker and there was no variation from company to company, we'd all still have to purchase our equipment at exorbitant costs from NSG and only get a mediocre game out of it. Standard bolts wouldn't work. Each marker system needs a different bolt style to work based on the design. For example, tippmann and spider markers can't use the same bolts as tippmann pioneered and uses a linear bolt, valve, and hammer configuration. Their proprietary valve systems allow for this. The standard Nelson valve on the other hand, uses a stacked valve, hammer, and bolt design which is why you have to have a linkage pin between the bolt and the hammer. Tippmann isn't going to give away their technology for free, and if someone else can produce a marker without having to pay a licensing fee for use of certain designs, they will. It makes it cheaper and better for the player and the economy of paintball. Standardizing barrel threads is rapidly becoming a reality. While certain manufacturers still hold to their proprietary threads for whatever reason. Autococker threads are used on most of the new markers for two reasons. Number one, autocockers were some of the most prolific markers on the market prior to the decline in cost of electro-pneumatic markers, so there are a lot of barrels out there for them, and secondly, many of the companies that make markers now (DYE and Eclipse for example) used to make more autococker parts than anything else, so they just stuck with the standard they knew. Tippmann is even becoming more and more standard as the A-5, X-7, Pro-Carbine, Carbine, Mini Lite, and pro-lite all share the same barrel threads. Kingman will never standardize as their markers are made in metric-measured machine shops, the same goes for WDP. Standardizing barrels themselves would be pointless as a multitude of barrels gives you multiple advantages depending on the game, weather, conditions, and paint-size. As for speed, they tried to do that back in both the early and mid 80's. First they tried to keep things fair by outlawing C/A in tournaments. Then, with the advent of Tippmann Pneumatics' SMG.60, they attempted to ban semi-auto by banning the .60 outright at the majority of fields and fully banned (still is) in tournaments. Of course, we all know how well that worked out for the paintball community.

As for standardization on caliber, It wasn't as big of a step as some of the others that have been listed. The calibers still aren't actually standardized, just loosely held to around .68" in diameter. You can go to the store and pick up rounds that dip well below .66 caliber. All that really did was put some paint companies under (do you see nelson manufacturing paintballs anymore?) and put some others way ahead, like RPS. It had little-to-no bearing on manufacturing standards as companies have proven that they are flexible enough to make a wide range of barrel calibers, especially in recent years. Moreover, it cost many companies a lot of money to re-tool their assembly and machining lines to accept the new standards. 