Our church had a father and son paintball event and I have daughters, but volunteered for the boys who don't have a dad. I'll start off and say it was a BLAST!!! and if you have never tried it you need to get out and do some paint shooting. There was about 40-50 of us and we divided into two teams, the teenagers against the dads and pre-teens. I was pretty cocky starting out with my many years of trainning and shooting practice, and thought I could really show these guys some good tactics and shooting. Well, I was humbled really quickly and those dang teenagers kicked our butts! The Japs in WWII would have admired how sneaky these little rats were. I hardly ever saw any of them and if I just peaked my head out for a quick glance some rounds would whiz by within an inch of my head. I went charging forward for cover and before I got halfway there I got shot between the eyes. They were more patient than us old guys, we would try to attack and out-flank, and give covering fire to the front line attackers but nothing worked, they were just better than us. The thing that concerned me after it was over was there was a total disregard for gun safety. When you are behind the backstop all guns are supposed to have their muzzle plugs in cause a .64 caliber paintball will definitely take your eye out! There were kids all over with their muzzle plugs out waving their guns around pulling the trigger if the gun was empty and letting their muzzles point at other people. I was constantly yelling at the kids to put the plugs in and I was about the only adult who said anything about safety. I was just rolling my eyes at all the poor gun handling habits and wondered about what it would be like when these kids get around real guns.
Shot Paintball for the first time. Some observations
- Thread starter Farmer17
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
OP
Our church had a father and son paintball event and I have daughters, but volunteered for the boys who don't have a dad. I'll start off and say it was a BLAST!!! and if you have never tried it you need to get out and do some paint shooting. There was about 40-50 of us and we divided into two teams, the teenagers against the dads and pre-teens. I was pretty cocky starting out with my many years of trainning and shooting practice, and thought I could really show these guys some good tactics and shooting. Well, I was humbled really quickly and those dang teenagers kicked our butts! The Japs in WWII would have admired how sneaky these little rats were. I hardly ever saw any of them and if I just peaked my head out for a quick glance some rounds would whiz by within an inch of my head. I went charging forward for cover and before I got halfway there I got shot between the eyes. They were more patient than us old guys, we would try to attack and out-flank, and give covering fire to the front line attackers but nothing worked, they were just better than us. The thing that concerned me after it was over was there was a total disregard for gun safety. When you are behind the backstop all guns are supposed to have their muzzle plugs in cause a .64 caliber paintball will definitely take your eye out! There were kids all over with their muzzle plugs out waving their guns around pulling the trigger if the gun was empty and letting their muzzles point at other people. I was constantly yelling at the kids to put the plugs in and I was about the only adult who said anything about safety. I was just rolling my eyes at all the poor gun handling habits and wondered about what it would be like when these kids get around real guns.
j2k22
Member
'taint only "kids" that have a problem with muzzle control and piss-poor gun handling. Played paintball for a couple of years with a group of late 20's/ early 30's younguns, and was always horrified at their sloppy handling and utter ignorance of safety considerations.Watched one of them light up an entire crowd with his Tippman SMG by "accident" as we were prepping for battle. Made it a practice to get my goggles on first thing when we reached the field- as you observed, a .68 cal paintball at 300 fps can take out an eye. They also are no fun when shot into your ear canal, as I found out first-hand one fine afternoon.
I estimate that less than 10% of our population has any direct experience with firearms these days, so maybe it is unrealistic to expect our fellow players to observe the safety practices that we take for granted. The upside of this is that they generally can't shoot straight, and have to make up for it with volume of fire. A skilled shooter can usually harvest a lot of these individuals if he can observe some basic tactical sense.
I estimate that less than 10% of our population has any direct experience with firearms these days, so maybe it is unrealistic to expect our fellow players to observe the safety practices that we take for granted. The upside of this is that they generally can't shoot straight, and have to make up for it with volume of fire. A skilled shooter can usually harvest a lot of these individuals if he can observe some basic tactical sense.
BarbC
Member
My son played paintball for years and ref'd it too. He was always yelling at the kids.
Do you think part of the gun handling problem could be because this is a shooting sport where you are supposed to shoot one another?
OP
The idea of moving, shooting, and using cover and not knowing what your enemy is going to do, or exactly where the other members of your team are and what they are doing was very intriguing to me. I learned a lot and am anxious to try it again and work on the areas that I need improving. The safety concepts were touched on by the instructors but not really enforced, I guess you can't expect much since the instructors looked like they were high school students. After the first few minutes the kids from our church thought they knew everything about paintball and all the safety instructions were forgotten. I think safety needs to be taught AND reinforced and any violations means the person has to sit out the game. Many of the adults were ignoring or forgetting the safety rules so the kids are going to imitate them. So, I guess next time our church does Paintball I'm going to have to appoint myself "Safety Officer" and drill it into people's heads until they get it. I would rather have a few people mad at me, then to see poor gun handling habits get someone's eye shot out or carry over into when they handle real firearms.
armenius
US Veteran
The post about learning to shoot and tactics is correct.I have been reading and learning about the Jihadist among us and over and over there are recomendations for them to take up paintball.
Ahhh paintball... for years I said I would not do it since I have to many real guns and did not want to get in the habit of pointing a gun at someone and pulling the trigger willy nilly. I also had an event at church where a singles group went up against the biker group and was asked to come out by one of the pastors in charge.
I finaly said yes and it was definately fun and eye opening. One of my fondest memories that day was the other team being in a stationary position on top of a hill in a "fort" and we were assigned to go get em. I made it to a shelter in the middle of the hill. I literally picked up the structure and wore it like a tank and proceeded up the hill unharmed by the fire of the other team- much protesting of being unfair etc was made to the judges and while they never saw anyone do that in the years they were open there were no rules against it and as I stated all is fair in love n war... I did manage to take the hill
My biggest beef with the paintball stuff is the general inaccuracy compared to what I am used to but then again in real life its like we are farther apart han we were so it works ok for trainin.
I should get into it more but need another hobby like I need a whole in the head and being Sasquatch sized and older makes for an easier target if I can't be sneaky
I finaly said yes and it was definately fun and eye opening. One of my fondest memories that day was the other team being in a stationary position on top of a hill in a "fort" and we were assigned to go get em. I made it to a shelter in the middle of the hill. I literally picked up the structure and wore it like a tank and proceeded up the hill unharmed by the fire of the other team- much protesting of being unfair etc was made to the judges and while they never saw anyone do that in the years they were open there were no rules against it and as I stated all is fair in love n war... I did manage to take the hill
My biggest beef with the paintball stuff is the general inaccuracy compared to what I am used to but then again in real life its like we are farther apart han we were so it works ok for trainin.
I should get into it more but need another hobby like I need a whole in the head and being Sasquatch sized and older makes for an easier target if I can't be sneaky
BarbC
Member
I was just wondering if I'm the only one who has profound psychological/moral/ethical problems with making a game out of something so serious as shooting another human. Particularly where children and teenagers are involved.
I'm not being judgemental. I am speaking only for myself, and I might be wrong, but I know it is something I wouldn't want to be involved with. If someone in my church suggested it as a youth activity, I would be vehemently opposed. I would much rather sponsor a parent/child dove shoot for them.
safearm
US Veteran
No, you're not the only one with these concerns. I've trained my entire adult life to use deadly force, either as a LEO or in the military. I served in combat where I directed the attack of enemy targets and observed the results. I've used Airsoft and Simunitions as training tools, but I've refused to become involved in a "game" where you shoot someone. I don't disparage those who enjoy this hobby, but it's not for me, and IMO, trivializes the serious responsibilities weapon handling and justified use of force.
BarbC
Member
I've never played paintball because it hurts to get hit, but I've played laser tag and it's a game, that's all.
j2k22
Member
if you can't separate the fundamental difference between playing a game where nobody gets injured ( as opposed to "hurt" which does happen in paintball) and real-life force-on-force situations, don't play.
Maybe I'm a sick individual, but there is something very satisfying when you hear the shriek of shock and pain from somebody who was hunting you and walked into your ambush after they spent 10 minutes carefully traversing an area that they had finally deemed to be "clear".
It is also illuminating to be on the other side of the equation: after a 15-minute low crawl up a dirt trail, you suddenly notice that the grass on one side has been carefully parted and there is a clear firing lane. As this insight dawns, an orange streak is emitted from the far end of the firing lane, which comes in at 300 fps: the eye can clearly track it, but the muscles cannot react fast enough to evade. As the ball bursts on your goggles, you are forced to realize that there are other players with skills equal to yours, and that keeps you humble and challenged to return the favor next round.
In 40 year's worth of gun ownership, I have never had the occaision to point a firearm at anyone, save of course, the rubber bullet drills with various LEO friends. In other words, I know the rules of each situation, and live responsibly within them.
Maybe I'm a sick individual, but there is something very satisfying when you hear the shriek of shock and pain from somebody who was hunting you and walked into your ambush after they spent 10 minutes carefully traversing an area that they had finally deemed to be "clear".
It is also illuminating to be on the other side of the equation: after a 15-minute low crawl up a dirt trail, you suddenly notice that the grass on one side has been carefully parted and there is a clear firing lane. As this insight dawns, an orange streak is emitted from the far end of the firing lane, which comes in at 300 fps: the eye can clearly track it, but the muscles cannot react fast enough to evade. As the ball bursts on your goggles, you are forced to realize that there are other players with skills equal to yours, and that keeps you humble and challenged to return the favor next round.
In 40 year's worth of gun ownership, I have never had the occaision to point a firearm at anyone, save of course, the rubber bullet drills with various LEO friends. In other words, I know the rules of each situation, and live responsibly within them.
all5x
US Veteran
Was signing in at the local range when a regular came in with a patch over one eye..said it was taken out due to paintball..got under his goggles and destroyed the eyeball..I suddenly lost interest in that game..all5x
OP
You are never supposed to shoot someone in Paintball if you are closer than 10 feet away. If you get that close you just yell "SURRENDER" and the shooting stops and the enemy puts his muzzle plug in and walks back to the safety area. The paint guns are not very accurate and you are trying so hard to get hits, its diffucult to stop shooting when you get close and it takes a lot of discipline and self control. It requires an extreme amount of thinking and concentration just like shooting real guns.
