Another newbie...

[Mr_Wolf_Is_Innocent]

Hi everyone, (aa meeting style).

I am Mark, live in the southeastern most part of the uk (thats south east Kent, if you were unsure). I have two reasons for wanting to have a play with paintball, the first is, some idiots been shooting cats locally with air guns of various types, so any popping out into the garden to do some target practice risks a police visit, and whilst I know its not me, others... well you know!

So, I decided to look for something safe to the environment, rather obvious its not me pelleting cats, and I can fire at targets, Oh, I forgot, I am disabled, so I doubt ill be found in an arena, unless I get to be a great sniper, I haven't yet got any gear, but current wants are probably a pistol, and I like the looks of the Tippman TiPX and the Tiberius 8.1, however have not fully settled on anything more than a .68 calibre.

While trying to do my research I have come up with a couple of issues I do not understand, first is, where would you go to refill an air bottle to 3000PSI? (incase someone changes my mind), I have what appears from my research barely enough spare cash to get started, are there any pitfalls etc, I should know in advance of parting with my meagre wedge!

Many thanks, I have not yet read much on here, its late, so will probably do proper reading tomorrow, so I apologise if this post has crossed boundaries, please let me know and I will happily edit it when next online..

Many thanks for the add

Mark

 

[Tom]

Forget about your disability as a barrier to paintball - whatever the specifics there's bound to be a workaround. If you can function in life then you can function in paintball.

http://p8ntballer-forums.com/threads/team-unlimited-uks-disabled-paintball-team.169274/#post-1539372

It's your call on how you play, and solve any issues, but if there's something you aren't sure about then the chances are that someone has a solution

Of the TiPx and Tiberius I prefer the TiPx
But the way the TiPx has it's co2 you could get caught out in a firefight needing to change 12 gram at the wrong moment
Pistols are excellent fun, but leaves you outgunned most of the time, they are a pricey way to start and try if you like that style

A nice light / balanced 'speedball' style gun will serve you well and does not have to break the bank

Air/co2:
Other than 12 gram co2, which is in disposable cartridges, the 'power' of choice is air
Many sites still just run co2 fills, these are 'punter' orientated, avoid such sites other unless it's your only local choice. This would also limit your gun choice
Compressed air is filled from very high pressure compressors. Tyre compressors won't handle it

Sites that run walkons or events have compressed air fill stations, 3000psi is most common
Some sites do have 4500psi available, and events may bring it in via HPAC etc. If 4500 is used they will also have a 3000psi point
In the uk air fills are free when you play

Shooting in your garden may or may not be legal, if within a distance from a 'public highway' (I can't remember the distance)
Paintball falls in and out of various parts of legislation. In this case it is classified as an air weapon
If you are far enough away then you are legally ok in this sense, it would just be any anti social asbo / nuisance issues
If you have good terms with nearby neighbours then you should not have issues, when people are shooting cats it will just make it difficult and you could get a reputation for having guns
Probably easier to not shoot in the garden but the odd test can be done
(Note for 'autococker' threaded barrels there is now a testing suppressor, you can't shoot through it as the end is blocked, but it lets you do a full strip and clean at home then check it still works when rebuilt with little noise)

 

[Mr_Wolf_Is_Innocent]

thank you for all that information Tommikka, a lot to digest, and a few matters I hadn't considered to ponder, I live on a small private estate, but will double check via the police if firing the odd shot in the garden is permissible, I am also lucky enough to have a few farms around, some with chalk pits, where I might be able to get permission otherwise..

again, Thank you.

 

[NoobCannon]

Pretty sure you can do what you want in your own garden as long as the projectile doesnt leave your grounds and its legal to own obviously. Shooting An m60 for examply may not qualify lol

Couple friends been shooting air rifles at targets against a wall in thier back garden for years and never had troubles.

Steve

 

[Tom]

Pretty sure you can do what you want in your own garden as long as the projectile doesnt leave your grounds

Couple friends been shooting air rifles at targets against a wall in thier back garden for years and never had troubles.

No.
Doing something for years and not having problems does not make it legal
If over 50 feet from a public highway (which includes paths) then it may still be fine, but of it causes one of the 'consequences' then it's illegal. An 'interruption' could be someone on the street hearing a gun shot, or a neighbour just getting fed up and calling the police.

However in Scotland there's a new issue on the horizon. Politicians have been campaigning against any gun for years and are going ahead with licencing. Plinking in gardens is one of the targeted problem areas and is very unlikely to be agreed on as criteria for a licence (an air weapons certificate will be the minimum requirement, but they may covered by a firearms certificate if held

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1980/66/section/161

If a person without lawful authority or excuse—
(b)discharges any firearm or firework within 50 feet of the centre of such a highway,

and in consequence a user of the highway is injured, interrupted or endangered, that person is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

http://www.countryside-alliance.org/scot/ca-scotland-news/air-weapons-and-licensing-scotland-bill-what-will-it-mean-for-you

 

[NoobCannon]

Should have said just because they've done it for years and not had a problem doesn't make it right.

But i stand corrected by the above post anyway.

 

[Mr_Wolf_Is_Innocent]

I think, if I stand on one side of my garden I will be over 50 feet from the highway, but am awaiting the police to tell me and give me in writing if they say I would be legal.. just incase the neighbours complain.. (and I do have some right miserable old buggers.. parked two cars out the front of my house (legally) today to load up and move my daughter out, and had people moaning all over the shop.. no roads were blocked, both cars on my property.. and only one was mine. but I digress.) I will have words with some of the local farms, as they used to let me use an air pistol and rifle in their chalk pits, so hope they might allow me to do the same with paintball, if not.. well I will probably fail to get started.. lol..

and NoobCannon.. I'd have thought the same, but a friend living in a house in the middle of nowhere, used to walk around his garden naked, a hot air balloon went over and saw him (through binoculars) complained, and he was charged (then dropped later) with indecent exposure.. so if that can happen.. I like to try and make sure...

 

[Carl M]

I had police at my door because someone complained about me firing my paintball gun in my garden.

 

[Mr_Wolf_Is_Innocent]

what was the outcome Carl M?? as still no response from the police....

also, this is probably the stupidest dumbar$e Noob question, but if a pistol is sold as "First strike ready", does that mean it can only be used to fire FS? or as it reads, it can fire both, or even a mix of both in the same magazine?

Many thanks as always, for all responses so far, and yet to come

 

[Tom]

this is probably the stupidest dumbar$e Noob question,
A stupid question is the one you don't ask causing you to do someting stupid
but if a pistol is sold as "First strike ready", does that mean it can only be used to fire FS? or as it reads, it can fire both,
Both, it means the 'chamber/breach' has a D shaped gap and can accept FirstStrike
(The magazine would also need to be F/S ready)
or even a mix of both in the same magazine?
Potentialy both. I've never tried it, but you can load standard paintballs from a F/S ready magazine, the standard paintball will be fine, as long as the FS stays straight in the feed it will also be fine, however its not that practical. Pre mix them in the same magazine and you have no control on when you fire standard and when you fire FS.
Note that if you fire a standard paintball and a FS from the same gun the FS will come out faster, therefore organisers require FS users to chrono with the FS, thus the standard paintball will fire at a lower velocity