State of Paintball Tech

[Lambda25]

Hi All,

I've been out of paintball for about 4 years, and wanted to get a gauge for how paintball tech, in particular markers have evolved over that time.

I've got to say I can't see a heap load difference between my Pm8 and some of the newest stuff.... but maybe I'm just being a pessimist.

Any input is much appreciated ;D

 

[Sid Sidgwick]

Not a great deal can be done to propel a ball. Newest things are the LV1 and its valve operation, and the macro less features of the Vanquish, RSX shocker et al.

Operating pressures keep dropping a tad and efficiency goes up but as long as the rules stay the same their isn't too much developments on board technologies bar bigger brighter and more adjustable screen and interface.

 

[Kevin Winter]

I'm still shooting an Sl8r and an Ego7. No real difference between them and a modern marker besides a slightly softer shot. We're at the point of tiny, incremental improvements rather than revolutions these days...

 

[rewind]

As Sid said really, biggest differences are the pressures, (the new Macdev drone/clone is shooting at 100psi), and oled screens, hoseless design, and the weight of the markers getting lighter and lighter.
The clone has a dual speed firing mechanism to make it softer on paint, and generally markers are getting soft tip bolts. Its all about making things quieter, more air efficient, softer on paint and lighter.
Things must be moving behind the scenes for the next big revolutionary change, but not really sure what it will be, or even can be.

 

[emisnug]

Even though it may not seem like it, I think tech has evolved and changed a great deal over the last 5ish years. Normally, it's stuff you don't really notice, especially when you're shooting low to mid grade paint. A huge amount of work on air flow characteristics, bolt acceleration speed and a few other things has resulted in a large number of pretty damn good markers.

Your PM8 is a good marker (battery life is crap, but you can't have it all) - but it has been eclipsed by other markers in terms of efficiency (both electrical and air related) and refinement in terms both ergonomics and shot quality (which is subjective, but links to bolt acceleration speed, pressure in the system, reciprocating mass of the bolt, etc). If you want a demonstration of how much the tech has come since your PM8 was released, check out the differences between a Planet Eclipse Etek 3 (released in 2008) and it's successor, the Etek 5 (released 2014/15ish). There's a huge difference.

The Dye/Proto line of things hasn't really progressed much in terms of shot quality or efficiency since the DM7. Sure, a couple of ergonomic things have changed, and they've got noticeably more reliable, but they're still essentially the same spoolie they've always been.

 

[shoaibaktar]

As Sid said really, biggest differences are the pressures, (the new Macdev drone/clone is shooting at 100psi), and oled screens, hoseless design, and the weight of the markers getting lighter and lighter.
The clone has a dual speed firing mechanism to make it softer on paint, and generally markers are getting soft tip bolts. Its all about making things quieter, more air efficient, softer on paint and lighter.
Things must be moving behind the scenes for the next big revolutionary change, but not really sure what it will be, or even can be.

High powered Laser Cannons!!!!

 

[rewind]

I was gonna make a stormtrooper joke about acuracy, but given that even most front players shoot about 200 rounds before landing a single shot, paintballers arent really ones to comment

 

[Buddha 3]

Even though it may not seem like it, I think tech has evolved and changed a great deal over the last 5ish years. Normally, it's stuff you don't really notice, especially when you're shooting low to mid grade paint. A huge amount of work on air flow characteristics, bolt acceleration speed and a few other things has resulted in a large number of pretty damn good markers.

Your PM8 is a good marker (battery life is crap, but you can't have it all) - but it has been eclipsed by other markers in terms of efficiency (both electrical and air related) and refinement in terms both ergonomics and shot quality (which is subjective, but links to bolt acceleration speed, pressure in the system, reciprocating mass of the bolt, etc). If you want a demonstration of how much the tech has come since your PM8 was released, check out the differences between a Planet Eclipse Etek 3 (released in 2008) and it's successor, the Etek 5 (released 2014/15ish). There's a huge difference.

The Dye/Proto line of things hasn't really progressed much in terms of shot quality or efficiency since the DM7. Sure, a couple of ergonomic things have changed, and they've got noticeably more reliable, but they're still essentially the same spoolie they've always been.

While these are certainly improvements, they are hardly "wow-worthy" to people who have been in the game for more than two decades or more.
I think we have hit a plateau if you will, where sure, there are evolutions, but no revolutions. You can still be competitive with a gun made in 2010. It doesn't compare to the quantum leaps made when we went from pump/bolt action to semi, from semi to electro and so on. Does having an OLED screen improve my chances of shooting somebody in the testicles? Not really. Going from a shot every second, to 5 shots a second, to 10 plus shots a second greatly improves my chances of hitting said testicles...

Don't get me wrong, I'm not arguing with you, I agree that guns do get better still, but not in a "upgrade or die" sort of way.

 

[Collier]

I'm sure we were running markers around 100psi when I was last involved. No doubt the new gats are a load lighter though.
Where are we with chopping paint nowadays?

 

[rewind]

virtually none existent, but it does happen. Angled bolt tips, soft bolt tips and slight adjustments in the breach etc have certainly seen to that.