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What’s an "llegal" paintball marker? One that doesn’t comply with the rules. The hottest equipment issues this season are about electronic markers and when they’re "legal" or "illegal."
It’s accepted now that markers must operate either in semi-auto or pump mode, nothing else. Any other modes built into the marker must be locked out so a player can’t switch during a game into, say, a burst mode or full-auto. The new ASTM standard for paintball markers is semi-auto only.
Even in semi-auto mode, though, a marker can be "illegal" when the trigger is so sensitive that it has "trigger bounce"--which makes the marker shoot as if it were in a multi-round mode.
Secret programs in electronic markers can make a semi-auto marker "illegal," too. The program might, for example, let the player seem to have a semi if a ref checks the marker, but when the player activates the program, the marker shifts into a multi-round burst mode. http://apg.cfw2.com/assets/images/site/apg/pp0403-1.jpg"> Or the secret program might enable the marker to keep shooting steadily at a high rate of speed, while the player does pull the trigger but not at
that steady, or that fast, a rate.
Another kind of secret program could make a marker’s velocity rise once the player activates the program.
Do you doubt this? Here’s the NPPL.tv posted announcement on "Trigger Rules" before the NPPL Super 7 Commander’s Cup (Nov. 2003):
"To all teams playing in Miami the NPPL will not tolerate illegal markers. Which means markers programmed to shoot more then one paintball per trigger pull or programmed to shoot at higher velocities during the game.
"The NPPL does not allow fully auto paintball markers (Guns).
"Please adhere to the following rules.
"6.31 The definition of a trigger is the moveable lever or button that comes in contact with the finger. The contacts of a switch are not a trigger. A trigger pull requires an exertion of force by the finger on the trigger and a release of force by the finger on the trigger during every firing cycle. Markers may fire at any rate of fire, and may shoot any number of paintballs, provided that it fires in semi auto or pump mode only, which means that no more than one paintball is discharged during each firing cycle.
"6.32 Players may use a single, 68 caliber, pump or semi automatic paintball marker, which consists of a single barrel, a single trigger. Double action triggers and paintball markers capable of firing in other than semi auto or pump mode are prohibited.
"6.33. All markers with any form of external velocity adjusters must be modified in such a way that the velocity adjuster is not readily accessible during the course of the game. Depending upon make or model of the markers, some may require beaver tails and/or tournament caps or may require multiple tournament caps. All regulators require tournament caps such that they cannot be adjusted without a tool with the gun gassed or degassed.
"6.34. All markers are subject to inspection at any time during and within three days after an NPPL Tournament, provided that the markers are taken for inspection prior to such tournament's completion, and the team of any player found to be using a marker in violation of this Section 6 shall have all points amassed up to the point of such discovery removed, and such team will no longer be allowed to continue to participate in the tournament. Dave Zinkham the NPPL Scrutineer will be on hand, checking all the Paintball markers for trigger bounce and velocity settings. Please do not play with illegal triggers, as the penalties are not worth it. Make sure your markers are legal if you have any questions concerning your trigger please email Dave Zinkham at zinknme@earthlink.net
"Please read Wicked Air Sports announcement on Tournament lock requirements! During the New Jersey NPPL event, several pro players were not allowed to use their favorite marker because of trigger bounce issues, and were forced to use a backup marker. Players having Equalizer boards were able to dial out all of their trigger bounce and be completely legal. HOWEVER, until now, not having the marker locked (COMPETITION MODE) has not been an issue. In ALL future tournaments, the marker MUST be locked in COMPETITION MODE or it will not be allowed on to the field. It is simply too easy to change the debounce while on the field. http://apg.cfw2.com/assets/images/site/apg/pp0403-2.jpg"> Wicked Air Sportz will be providing templates for various model Intimidators so you can mark and drill a hole in your grip frame, making the Equalink connector (used for the computer interface as well as toggling the tournament) easily available by just removing the grip screws (instead of having to remove the entire grip panel). Furthermore each game referees will chrono a minimum of four players from each team on the field during the game. The NPPL is committed to running a safe fair tournament. Please help us by having your equipment set up properly prior to playing."--NPPL Rules Committee
Players, in all the years paintball has been around, there’s always someone trying to push the limits. Hiding paint under rocks before a limited-paint tournament. Marking trees when walking the fields before a tournament, so you know where to shoot to land paint on a bunker you can’t see. Keeping the regulator or the velocity regulator loose, to chrono on within limits and then turn the velocity up during a game. Adding a CO2 vent to the air system, to vent any liquid buildup before chrono’ing off. Putting orange stickers all over the hopper and barrel, or wearing orange jerseys, when the tournament paint breaks orange--so a ref may miss a hit.
Some of the limit-pushing isn’t related to safety. Some doesn’t break any rules.
But where a rule is in place for safety reasons, and people push that rule, whoever is in charge of rules enforcement has to crack down hard. The costs to "police" the rules will get higher as rules-breakers become more clever. Penalties have to be harsh--to deter people from breaking the rules.
It’s a never-ending struggle: the rules-breakers on one side, the rules-pushers in the gray area, and the rules-enforcers on the other side.
One thing paintball can do, as a sport, is to set aside resources (mainly money) to develop a body of referees who are truly independent, well-trained, and technologically savvy. Another is to create an international data base of players, coupled to ID cards, so when a player is found breaking the rules an entry can be made describing it--for all to read. Whether to ban that player from events or fields can be a decision affected by the player’s penalty history.
------------- Capt.EAST COAST CREW**
www.autocockerhelp.tk
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