Paintballs: Safety Equipment

By: Jason Petrina




For most people that have never played the sport of paintball may think that it is a dangerous activity to participate in. But the reality is that serious injuries happens less in paintball that any other accepted sports played. It is only true when all safety precautions are taken. On top of that most fields that hold the sport also must abide to the rules and regulations that are set by the Paintball Insurance Companies.

Goggles and mask are a hard pressed rule for all players that wish to participate in any paintball games. It must be kept on no matter what during the game even if you are not part of action at the time. As it is the only device that will be there to protect your eyes and face from the paintballs, and has proven to be extremely reliable in doing what it was meant to do. The lenses on the goggles are good enough for a several shot before it will start cracking. But as a precaution you should bring your goggles to the counter after one shot to the lenses.

Barrel socks are as important as goggles in turns of safety equipments. Barrel socks are what you put over the end tip of your barrel when you’re off the field of play and into the lounge area. This device will insure that if your gun were to misfire it will not hit anyone in the lounge as the barrel socks will catch the paintballs as it leaves the barrel. This equipment is used because as players leave the field and into the lounge they will be taking off their goggles, with the barrel sock it will eliminate any chances of anyone getting shot in the eyes. Another device which serves the same purpose as the sock is a barrel plug.

The speeds of the paintballs leaving the guns are set at a speed no higher 300 feet per second. But most fields do have a set speed limit of the paintballs being shot at, and there are referees to help you check the speed of your shots. If your shots are going faster than the speed regulation then the next step would be to get it tuned at the counter, or if it is during a game then the referee may ask you to leave. With the speed of the paintballs ranging from a speed of 275 – 300 feet per second, it will only leave as much as a bruise if hit and nothing more. But with wind and other factors that may cause the bullets to slow down, the speed of the paintballs being fired is always at a safe speed.

There are always at least one referee watching over the game, or maybe two depending on the size of thee field and the game. The referees used are all trained and will aware of all the rules and regulations that are set up by the Paintball Insurance Companies. These referees are in the field at a tower most of the time watching



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