D-Day: Preparing for the World's Biggest Paintball Tournament

The world's largest paintball event takes place over a week in June in Oklahoma at D-Day Adventure Park where 3,500 - 4,000 players gather to re-enact the Battle of Normandy.

Safety paintball supplies like goggles are required for all those on the playing field. However, there is plenty of opportunity for spectators to witness your sniper paintball guns marksmanship in action, and are invited to watch and camp for free. Players can expect to use around a case of paint during the tournament, though should also bring a back-up case to make sure not to run out of paintball supplies.

Units can pre-register, or register as an individual and be assigned to a German or Allied team. Allied teams are further broken up into Commonwealth teams (British and Canadian), German, and French.

Ice and water is available throughout the playing area, although the organizers highly recommend bringing canteens and camelback water carriers.

Night vision goggles are allowed for evening and night tournament play. No full auto or burst settings are allowed on paintball guns however, so perfect your single-shot and sniper techniques!

2010 D-Day highlights will include a 91st Birthday party for author and four-time combat jump veteran Jake McNiece as well as USO Show.

Bide Your Time to Success

During my last paintball encounter I devastated my opponents. We play at a field with barrels, blockades and sniper towers hidden in between the crooks of tree branches. My five friends and I play three on three. I have paintball supplies that include a paint ball gun that shoots 15 shots per second, and a sniper scope. I put the latter to use frequently during that game.

My buddies ran in circles trying to capture the flag, while I, stationed high above in the quietude of an oak, like a darkling thrush biding its time before winter comes, waited. The first shot of mine landed right on the mask of my best friend, who I was playing against. It surprised him so that his paint ball gun shot out a few rounds when it hit.

My next victim was lurking close to our flag, and in fact, was playing quite well. But I, waiting like a master, allowed him to think that he actually had a chance. He crept closer and closer to our flag, and just as he was making his final approach, I snagged him right on the chest. Stunned, he screamed in pain and anger.

I knew it was time. With just one player left, I easily made the approach and won the game for my team. No problem.

The Top 3 American Paintball Fields

Playing paintball is a blast, no matter where you play. But like your paintball gun, where you play can make a difference in your game.

The best place in the country to play is in Skirmish USA in Albrightsville, PA. This place has all kinds of different fields ranging from a western battlefield, to an airfield with airplanes, oil derricks, and towers, to castles with ramparts, towers and 15 foot walls. They also have a fake city called Tippman City, with 27 buildings perfect for hiding and sniping. The Metal Lands are filled with steel boxes that provide some of the field’s best sound effects. With over 700 acres, you will be sure to find a field that intrigues you.

Old River Paintball is in Florida, and has 12 different fields. They also have an air station to refill your paint ball gun tanks. With a variety of games, like Speedball, Airball and Hyperball, they keep the fun coming.

Third is Advanced Alabama Adventures. AAA has been around for more than 20 years, and is willing to change the course to suit your desires. Personalized paint ball has never been so easy.

These three are some of the country’s best, but if you can’t get to any of them, it’s easy to find a good field in your neck of the woods.

The Origins of Paintball

Above: The Nel-Spot, the first paintball gun.
In 1976, a stock trader by the name of Bob Gurnsey and his writer friend Charles Gaines, the man who documented a series of photos called “Pumping Iron,” (yes, that Pumping Iron) were discussing Gaines’ recent trip to Africa where he hunted buffalo. To simulate the adrenaline rush of the hunt, and in talking about Richard Connell’s The Most Dangerous Game, the duo invented a game whereby they would hunt each other.

In 1981 in New Hampshire, using Nel-spot 007 pistols for paintball guns, which are typically used by hunters and farmers to mark boundaries, the pair and ten friends played a capture the flag type game.
Early paintball was quite different from today’s game. Shooting was rare, as the CO2 tanks were only 10 grams. Without masks, shop glasses were used, and the original paintball guns at most held 10 rounds, which had to be tilted to roll into the chamber, and recocked after each shot.

After the game, Gurnsey began talks with Nel-spot to license specific paintball supplies. In the following years, national interest surges as competing companies began making equipment, and the way was paved for modern paintball. By 1984, paintball had become international. The rest is history.

Play Speedball with Competition Paintball Guns

If you’re an avid paintballer, chances are that you’re always looking for ways to enhance your game and new ways to stomp the competition. If you haven’t started playing speedball, or competitive paintball, you should! It’s an incredible, adrenaline filled game that is a bit more challenging, than just going out and playing with friends.

If you aren’t familiar, paintball has two different types of games: woodsball and speedball. Speedball is when the field is composed of inflatable bunkers, of the same location and number on each side of the field. This way, the field is an even playing ground for both teams.

Speedball teams can typically consist of 3, 5, 7 or 10 players. The paintball markers are different as well.
Speedball markers are designed with high rates of fire. They are the guns used by professionals who compete because they can seamlessly put out multiple shots per second.

So whether you’re already a big speedball player, or just want a paintball marker that is tournament worthy, you should look into competition paintball guns at Choicepaintball.com

Intimidate the Competition with Save Phace Paintball Masks

There are three crucial elements to winning big in paintball: the right paintball guns, a plan of attack, and an intimidating paintball mask.

The last one may seem like a matter of opinion, but think about it: If you already have to have your face covered and protected, why not up your game and make your mask intimidating to the opposition?
In terms of quality construction, artful design, and intimidating graphics, Save Phace Paintball Masks are the top-of-the-line.

Save Phace masks feature airbrushed artwork for the fiercest and most intimidating look on the course. The name says it all with Save Phace. These high-quality masks are ANSI and ASTM rated and approved for optimal safety. In addition, you don’t have to worry about sizes with Save Phace because one size fits all, they are incredibly simple to clean and maintain, and can be put on in two seconds.

These are some serious masks: the lenses feature military grade anti-fog, anti-scratch UV coating that’s retained despite heavy water exposure or thorough cleaning. If you have your own intimidating mask design in mind, be sure to consult choicepaintballguns.com for a custom order in which you can put any graphic or image your heart desires.

How to Maintain Your Paintball Gun

Paintball rifles and guns can be pretty pricey pieces of machinery, depending on the level you play at, and the most important thing you can do to maintain the quality of your investment is to keep your paintball gun working as good as it did when you first got it. Here are a few tips to help your guns working like new.

1)    Clean your paintball gun fully after every game, as dirt and grime from the course can easily get on and in your barrel. If a paintball bursts in your barrel you’ll want to unscrew it fully and get everything out. Dry paint lumps in your barrel are no good for a game.

2)    Make sure that you oil the hammer of your paintball marker after every game. The hammer is crucial to the overall performance of your gun because it pushes the paintball down the barrel at such a high speed.

3)    If you play on a wet day, it can be beneficial to store your guns upright. This will allow any moisture that’s inside rise out of the gun. Since guns are primarily metal, you want to minimize moisture that could cause your gun to rust after extended exposure.

Accessories for Tippmann Paintball Guns

Any good paint-baller knows that your game is only as good as your gun, and the accessories you have to really turn up the heat on the competition. Tippmann paintball guns are some of the best on the market, and consequently, have some of the coolest paintball accessories. If you have the gun, but need to invest in some top notch gear to enhance your game, here are 3 must have accessories.

Tactical RIS N9000 Flashlight:
This flashlight is designed to be put on in a matter of seconds with the greatest ease, perfect for when you’re in the heat of the moment, but need a little light shed on the subject.

Red Dot Scope Kit with Offset Mount:
The Red Dot Scope Kit is easy to install on pretty much every Tippmann model and provides that unrivaled accuracy when you’re trying to hit those targets.

Bipod with 45 Degree Swivel:
This awesome accessory allows you to take aim at multiple targets without having to move your whole rifle. You can rotate to the left or to the right up to 45 degrees. It’s sturdy 100 percent metal construction allows you have steadier shots and improves aim. Now who doesn’t want that?!

Top 3 Paintball Movies

Paintball is everywhere in daily culture, especially films. Here are some cool paintball movies that show a world where paintball rules.

1.Paintball: This flick is about 8 paintball pros who pay for an extreme competition. What they aren’t expecting is that the people who they are playing against are not using paintball supplies. An extreme action movie that conjures Richard Connell’s “The Most Dangerous Game,” this is a must see for paint ball fans.

2. Court Jesters: A Paintball Movie. This film is based on a true story about a directionless young man who gets involved with paintball. His mission is to become the best, after living through the worst.

3. Unknown Soldiers isn’t a full length feature film, but it is one of the most viewed movies about paint ball. This documentary follows a group of Division 5 paint ball players who go straight into the National Paint Ball League after never having played before together. They attempt to play as a team to become the best paint ball players they can be. Here’s the first half of the doc:

Hope you like these vids, and if you have any other recommendations, feel free to post them.

Paintball Supplies Are A Great Way To Improve Your Game

Paintball is super safe. The only necessary paintball supplies you need are goggles. Don't play without them because if you do, and are hit in the eye, you can go blind. That is why along with your paintball marker, goggles are the only other piece of equipment the game requires. It’s important to have goggles that are comfortable and well-fitting and don’t fog up.

Style is secondary. You may want a more intimidating look, which can be achieved by covering your entire head with a tactical helmet. This can be complemented with other paintball supplies and paintball accessories. Colors and crazy styles also convey a more intimidating appearance and will make your opponents quiver in their boots. Jerseys and gloves can also add to this. Once you feel like your paintball accessories are coming together, you can look at add-ons for your gun.

A rifled barrel can help your gun look cooler, but you also want to look at paintball accessories that make your gun lighter and shoot faster. Scopes are a great idea, as are muzzle brakes and silencers. The best thing about paint ball is that there’s always room for improvement, and new paintball supplies can help to step your game up.

Investing In Your Paintball Game

If you are just getting started with paintball or you’re a seasoned vet, you probably know that when it comes to paintball guns, Tippman paintball guns are some of the most reliable. The Tippman A5 is a semi-automatic and shoots 15 balls per second. You can find it for around $200, but that’s just the beginning. If you want to make your paintball marker more extreme it might be good to look at sniper paintball guns. Buying a sniper kit can be a great investment, or you can buy the barrel itself for a bit less money. In any case, upgrades are a great way to step up your game.

Smart Parts is another excellent paintball gun company and makes paintball markers designed for tournament competition. These guns are lightweight, get excellent gas usage and come with interchangeable kits to upgrade or change your paintball guns style and color. Although more expensive, guns like the Smart Parts NXT Shocker are extremely accurate and fast, making their use in competitions a no-brainer.

Like most investments, your returns are equal to what you put in. If you buy a more expensive gun or invest in a sniper kit, you will reap the rewards on the field.

Build Your Own Paint Ball Field!

If you love paintball, then you probably have your own paint ball guns and you probably go to paint ball fields. But if you already have a bunch of friends with their own paintball guns, and some paintball supplies, you don’t have to pay extra to go to a paint ball field, you can build your own.

Not only is this cheaper, but it also allows you to learn the space you’ve constructed and add to it for more and more adventure. To get started, all you need is a big field, or maybe even some woods, which at least one of your paint ball loving friends should have in their backyard. Depending on how heavily wooded your field is, you can improvise with more flat pieces of wood, or even by digging ditches and foxholes. Using rocks and trees you can provide shelter and build barricades and if you want you can buy some dirt and create mounds that you can hide behind. And if you have any other ideas as to how to improve your field, get creative!

If you need any other paintball supplies just go to www.ChoicePaintballGuns.com. They have all your paint ball needs.

A Beginner's Guide to Paintball

Paintball is a growing sport and a lot of people are trying it for the first time. But as my grandpa says, it’s all fun and games till someone loses an eye! With that said, it’s important you know what you’re doing.

• While we’re on the subject of losing eyes, the first rule is to never EVER take your mask off unless you’re in a designated area. Paintball guns are pretty powerful, so unless you’d be into wearing an eye patch for the rest of your life, keep the mask on.

• Make sure you understand your paintball gun and its operations and limitations. Don’t be afraid to ask someone if you’re unsure.

• Wear darker clothes. White is bright and makes you an easier target, especially if there are sniper paintball guns in use.

• As far as shoes go, wear some type of boots or hiking/running shoes. Some people even wear Soccer or Football cleats for better traction.

• Keep your eyes open and look around. A lot of players get hit because they aren’t looking sideways or are too focused on one area. Look around, people could be anywhere.

• Don’t stay a spot for too long. Don’t be afraid to run out uncovered. Run, hide, attack and remember to look around. This may take a while to train yourself to do, because it’s our nature to focus on one thing, but you’ll get better the more you play.

• Never give up! Whether you run out of paintball supplies or energy, you’re still useful to the game.

Remember to check out ChoicePaintballGuns.com for great deals on paintball supplies.

How Can I Make My Paintball Rifles More Accurate?

When playing paintball, you can do it for just fun, but I think even the "just fun" people still want their paintball rifles to shoot accurately enough. Well, there are a couple of things you can do to ensure this.

First off, it's said that a 16 inch barrel is the optimum size. It improves aim and accuracy, I mean, you will need some practice, but most people that use the 16 inch Werks Tippmann Paintball guns find that the shot is a lot more efficient!

You should also be looking at the paint balls you're using. There are cold weather balls and warm weather balls and they usually have a surrounding shell or chemical ingredient in the "paint" that changes the overall velocity of the balls.

Lastly, when possible, it’s best to use Tippmann paintball guns since these use compressed air mechanism instead of CO2. It's said that CO2 is problematic and can deliver less than wanted results because the CO2 gas oftentimes ruins the contact action of the balls coming out of the barrel.

Obviously, use whatever you see fit - but it's something to try if you want to try a few other options out!

Choosing Paintball Rifles

One should not approach choosing paintball rifles lightly. There are many factors that you must consider before investing in paintball rifles. First of all, you need to determine how seriously you take the sport. Are you a casual paintballer who only plays now and then on random weekends? Are you on the opposite end of the spectrum and view the sport as war without the literal casualties? Alternatively, are you somewhere in-between? If you are the first you are obviously not going to need to put in much thought.

A low end paintball rifle will suit your purposes. However, if you are a full on paintball warrior, nothing but the best will suit you. You may want to have a top of the line paintball sniper rifle with a massive hopper with which you can pick off opponents with ease.

If you are in the middle, you will want something that is sturdy and of good quality but will not break your bank. For example, one of the Tippmann paintball guns might be what you are looking for. These guns are geared toward a younger player and thus are perfect for someone who is not looking for something that is packed with features. It also makes a great gift for your child who is into the sport.

What Safety Precautions Should I Take With Paintball Rifles?

Paintballing can end up being a really fun recreational activity to either do with your friends or your family. But, as with most other contact sports, even paintball, it’s always a good idea to take certain precaution measures in order to ensure the safety of yourself and those around you. First and foremost it's important you have the right gear. After getting hit with a paintball once or twice, a lot of people learn that wearing long sleeves and long pants is a really good idea! Paintballs aren't as hard as rocks, but it's also not like having someone throw a cotton ball at you either!

They can leave welts on your skin and sometimes, depending on how close the person is to you, these can sting quite a lot! Second off, it's always a good idea to buy a pair of goggles. This might seem silly, but it's better than getting paint in your eye! If you don't like the goggle option you could get a mask instead. These are actually really cool looking and come in all sorts of colors and designs! Elbow pads, knee pads, chest protection and... groin protection could also be another option to look into.

Lastly, paintball gloves! These are really just to ensure that you have a good grip on your paintball rifles. A lot of the guns like Tippmann paintball guns already come with a grip on the gun, but if you want to really get into the game and be able to really kick some butt, a little extra grip is going to work wonders for you!

Paintball Is A Superb Way To Be More Active!

Paintball is just one of those sports activities where you don't even know that it is exercise because it’s so much fun! In order to get in on this amazing sport and exercise your lungs, your body and your heart, you are going to need a few different products in order to get in the game. One main item you are going to need is paintball rifles. These come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, brands and prices - so pick out one that you really like and fits with your body and style of paintball.

A few of the most popular guns are Tippmann paintball guns, Tiberius Arms, MilSig Industries, and Ariakon. You can also choose from other types of "guns" as well such as paintball rifles, pistols and grenades. Also, another really neat thing to check out is the upgrades and kits available on our website - this is going to allow you to make your rifle or gun rock!

So if you own Tippmann paintball guns and you want to turn it into an AK-47 you could buy the Tippmann A5 AK47 Kit and literally turn it into a whole other gun.

This is not only exciting, but can also save you tons of money - because most of the kits are much cheaper than new paintball guns, especially every time you got sick of them!

Tippmann Paintball Guns — Get Ready for the X7 Phenom!

Fans of Tippman paintball guns have long enjoyed the X7, so much so that it was hard to envision a suitable successor. But Tippman really stepped up to the plate with the X7 Phenom – a sleeker, smarter, and more powerful improvement on an already impressive original.

What’s so phenom about the Phenom?

For starters, the X7 Phenom has a couple of very exciting new features, like the electronic trigger, which allows you to fire in a variety of formats, among them fully automatic. Additionally, the X7 Phenom features “spool valve” tech that makes recoil almost nonexistent, so you don’t have to worry about losing your accuracy every time you pull the trigger.

But despite these added features, the X7 Phenom is actually smaller and lighter than its predecessor, and comes with fewer wear parts, which makes it extremely easy to maintain.

Of course, with an upgrade, you always have to worry about whether all of your old accessories and kits will be compatible with the new model, but Tippman has got you covered—the X7 Phenom works with upgrades from any of the X7 Tippman paintball guns.

Woodsball — Make Your Custom Paintball Rifles Look Like Real Guns!

There are two ways to play paintball. First, there’s the casual way, where you and a bunch of friends run around shooting each other with paintball rifles that look like paintball rifles.

And then there’s Woodsball.

Woodsball, also called scenario paintball, provides the ultimate authentic paintball experience, where shooters use specialty guns designed to look like military weapons. These can even be decked out with realistic accessories, including lasers, scopes, grips, and handguards. To complete the experience, Woodsball shooters typically play in the woods (hence the name) while dressed in camo.

Think of it like a video game: Would you rather play as some childish cartoon character hitting his opponent with a cartoon weapon, or a true-to-form soldier wielding an M4 Carbine?

Best of all, Woodsball guns allows shooters to choose their own personal fighting styles. Interested in sneaking around and hiding? Try a replica sniper rifle. A fan of up-close-and-personal attacks? A Sub-Machine Gun might be just the tool for you.

Try out some realistic paintball rifles today—they’ll make any other type of gunplay look like your little sister’s video games.

I Just Bought A Set Of Paintball Rifles, How Can I Maintain My Rifle?

As with most other products, paintball rifles call for a good amount of money to be spent in order to get a great rifle that is going to keep up with your lifestyle. Chances are you got one that is moderately priced and very durable, so you really want to try and maintain the quality for these paintball rifles and in doing so you will be able to keep this rifle for a lot longer! Oftentimes a well-maintained gun is the difference between trifling all day or sitting out a couple of games to fix things like jammed triggers or barrel breaks.

And if you are like most people this just won't suffice! One of the ways a lot of people maintain their paintball rifles or guns such as Tippmann paintball guns is literally by taking it apart piece by piece and cleaning it with gun oil. One thing you really want to make sure you do is keep track of all the parts and how they were placed IN the gun. The best thing you can do is lay down an old sheet and trace each piece with a black marker and marking of where the piece came from. Another thing you can do is find schematics for your specific rifle or gun online which is going to include illustrations on what parts go where.

If you are new to your gun, these parts can get a little confusing so be sure to at least do one of the above mentioned tasks. Also, be sure to use Q-tips, a toothbrush and even paper towels in order to reach and clean all of those hard to reach surfaces and pieces inside the gun. Another thing you can do at this point is to take a look at any pieces that seem to need to be replaced such as O-rings. These cost a few bucks and are really easy to replace! Gun oil can be found on most any site that offers paintball rifles such as ours!