Pirates, Opportunistic Fisherman, or Just Thirsty? A Quiz…

23 September 2019September 24, 2019rebecca.childress@yahoo.comLeave a comment

Pirates or Opportunistic Fisherman (or thirsty, innocent fisherman) and a quiz…

Pirates? Opportunistic fisherman? Innocent fisherman just looking for water or booze? How do you know? What do you do when you feel you could be in a position to be attacked? You can’t just over-react, be paranoid, and shoot anyone who comes around…But you have to be ready to protect yourself, to keep people away from your home. It’s hard to tell where, when, and what, and you may never even need to know. The majority of cruisers never have to deal with anything bad happening, or anything being stolen. But what if you are the unlucky one? We can’t just “stay away” anymore from dangerous places…dangers lurk everywhere, and we have to be more vigilant than we used to be…Take the quiz, and ask yourself what you would do…

QUIZ

There are 4 potentially dangerous situations we have personally had in the last 12 years of sailing around the world. They could have gone either way…can you guess which one or ones ended really really badly for our friends?

And later, there is a professionals advice on a few things as well…

But what would you have done in these situations…would you known which one really was dangerous? When does both or one of you lock yourself in a cabin?

10 people hiding under a tarp, one guy in a black hood and face mask, in a small open boat, coming fast up behind us. Waving his hands claiming to need help, we think, in a foreign language….Pulling up to side of boat, desperate to jump on. Do we let him on? Did we even have a choice? Intuition was used, judgements were made, and when we saw one lady and one kid pop up from under the tarp, we let one and only one guy on…how do you think it turned out?

2.Fishing boat anchored. You slowly sail by. They fire up the engines and start coming towards you with their small 3 boats tied to the back. There is a tradition in this area to pass one’s boat in front of your bow and get their bad fishing luck wiped out for the day. They believe in it strongly. The 3 small fishing boats are empty but on long tethers that go out like water skis and start to surround you…The men are not smiling…in fact they look quite scary and aren’t saying anything to us, only amongst themselves. What do you do with these punky looking fisherman, now standing on their bow, coming so close to your boat, in the jump position? You maneuver your boat just well enough to stop them from boarding…you let out the rest of your job and fire up your engine too. You sail, and maneuver…they speed up… and repeatedly try to get close enough to jump. They don’t communicate anything verbally.

3.A young fisherman with all his nets is out 6 miles from land as you are sailing along in the daylight. This is the same fisherman you saw back in the anchorage who that you asked, somewhat impolitely, to move his nets because they were put down on top of your anchor and you really needed to leave. Hooks and poles had surrounded your boat. He had not been happy but he had finally picked up his nets and left. Now he is throwing nets and floats aggressively in front of your boat, 6 miles out to sea. When other boats comes around he speeds off, but then comes back when they are out of sight, and does it all again. You fire a flare in his direction. He leaves, and then comes back 15 minutes later, and does it all again despite you yelling and telling him to go away. He is now putting lines around your boat, within 10 feet of the boat, cursing, and ignoring your requests to remove his nets and fishing gear. Luckily you are sailing so they probably aren’t gonna get in your prop. What would you do?

4.You are anchored and have just had an early dinner. The sun is setting, and it’s been a beautiful day. The police, with their official Police shirts and badges come up and ask you for your boat papers to be sure you are anchored there legally…standard stuff. They climb aboard. What do you do…unhappy with their black boots scuffing up your deck, and the lack of politeness?

———————****************————————-

COMPILATION OF IDEAS FOR SELF DEFENSE ON A SAILBOAT

After all of the thoughtful comments on the last defense video, (and not so thoughtful ones too), we still aren’t sure what we want to have on our sailboat. Some we already have, but still don’t feel 100% decided and protected…maybe you never are 100% safe….

What would you have on your sailboat to protect against thieves, intruders, or pirates…hard core pirates with guns, or just from pirates who want to steal something from you? Here is a compilation of suggestions we had in the video…Other ideas? (Please go to our Video, listed below for comments as I am unable to manage comments on this here)

-Flare gun (More info on Amazon)

-parachute flares (More details)

-Molotov cocktail

-Pepperballs

-Pepper spray

-Pepper Gel (More Info on Amazon)

-AR15

-Loud PA announcing intentions

-Bow and Arrow

-sword/machete

-glass breaker balls

-Laser light

-fire extinguishers

-Blinding light

-trench knife

-Flame thrower

-a 308, a 45, shotgun, or other

-slipper/soapy deck

-barbed wire, thumbtacks

-Electric lifelines/stantions. Minimum of 1 joule suggested by Geoff Gentil, on SV Arnak in South East Asia… (Surveyor and Sailor) Here is a photo of his unit, with tester and copper ground pole which he puts in the cockpit drain…. He cautions to make sure whatever you have electricized…lifelines, stantions etc are all isolated from anything and everything else electrical on the boat, or pay the price…he has used the system for 2 years, and it has been useful! (BTW, his beautiful boat is for sale…contact me if you want details)

Here is one on Amazon’s that matches the specs

A comparable unit on Amazon

-weed sprayer with flammable liquid (on amazon.com)

-lock yourself in and let them take it all

-grenades

-wasp spray A good one on Amazon

-spear gun

-taser, tazer, tazer gun, taser gun, stun gun

-knife

-potato launcher

-escape by scuba

-frozen paintballs

-greased pole

-buzz gun

-safe room on the boat with lock, radio and epirb

-stabilized binoculars (Nice ones on Amazon)

-avoid all areas that may have any crime (ie stay at home)

-cricket bat or baseball bat

-slingshot with pepperballs

-pump action shotgun

-ammonia squirt bottle, or under pressure

-Sail fast, in to the waves and hope their boat can’t keep up with that

-Sail out further from land

use radar and avoid all targets Raymarine at West Marine

-party poppers filled with pepper

-water gun filled with gasoline.

-Just a really good security system with the Cloak or the Sound Barrier (The Cloak)

-bars on the windows, with locks, and bars on the companionway, and stay inside, and pull Epirb, call for help on VHF, SSB, Sat Phone, GEOS Safety Solutions, Panic button on the Iridium GO, or other. West Marine for Epirb, and more…

———————-*************—————————

Tips from a Pro

Now, meet Jesse McNeilly…a recent poster on our Sailboat Defense video with some good ideas. (Video below in case you have not seen it) While we don’t feel all of his advice is perfect for every ssilboat, I’m not sure there IS any perfect advice out there. You must make the decision yourself, and prepare yourself according to what you feel will work for your skills, comfort level and cruising area. We can’t tell you what’s right, and neither can anyone else. You must think about this, and plan , and decide how much you want to leave til the moment it happens, and how much you want to do ahead of time…

He writes:

“No equipment will do much of anything without training. For evidence – check out First Person Defender (FPD) on YouTube. Proves the point.

The individuals in the video may lack the real-world experience of being under immediate life threatening danger – I’m highly sceptical of the gentleman in the store, he’s a sales rep by observation, he wants to sell products. The authors are keen but at first glance aren’t trained. Training and experience makes the outcome of a battle you pick on the ground of your choosing, that’s is; Once you step off into being a victim to being a defender, it’s all or nothing, you fight or literally die trying. The second anyone (who you target) figures out your weakness, lack of skills, non-lethal capacity… you’re fu****. They will tactically exploit your fear and previewed weakness and use it against you, inviting harm or worse as you may just piss them off in your attempt/s to protect yourself. In my view; you simply don’t know what they want – your stuff or your life essentially. In any case, I’m not waiting to find out. I’m currently in the process of developing a range of common items which on there own are innocuous – simple items you’d find around the home/boat. These are perfectly legal and on their own simple. When combined you can have a non, to lethal option. You can easily construct tools mentioned in the comments, ideally make it hard, impossible or lethal for these pirates to board your vessel and conduct their operations. In most cases they want things from you, in others they’re looking for a ransom and in others they may want to kill you (such as religious extremists). To come back to my original point. Don’t wait to find out. They MUST understand that if they are to board your vessel, they may be hurt badly, or even better killed. Some items to consider:

-Blinding lights mounted to your vessel

-Speakers which warns them that you are armed and will defend yourself. Also with an audible recording (In their language) broadcasting that you have activated emergency distress and are declaring an emergency.

-Directional blinding lights, preferably with a strobe function.

-Slippery deck soap, or, solution to make boarding difficult.

-Weed sprayer which can take flammable liquid, I’ll let your imagination work that out.

-Pikes/axes/long arm edged weapons and/or a combination

-Several fire extinguishers (Dry Chemical Powder) – careful of wind, speed and direction

-Gas masks/respirators

-Hardened openings, lockable from the inside, window covers/black out shades

-Any incendiary; liquid, solid or gas which can be used for a variety of audible, concussion, directional kenetic options and more.

If you’re gonna go ‘full pirate’ COMMIT, amp yourself up, put on some bagpipes fuken war paint and get into it, you’re (if you decide to commit that is) in a fight for your life to defend your mates, loved ones, life, kids, home etc. do it right and go 110% if you’re going to get into a brawl

-Home made body armour, thick paper, ceramics, stab vests etc etc. Look the part and play into the role you want to display – don’t go at it half arsed. Of course, these are options, you MUST practice and drill and be CONFIDENT that when push comes to shove you COMMIT. If you’re not sure, then follow standard guidelines for being a hostage; don’t resist, given them what they want, comply, comply, comply. Sus out the situation early; if there as 2 or more fast boats, 5+ pirates etc. don’t think you, your Jack Russle and your wife 50+ years in age are gonna do much of anything. It’s not home alone the movie, shit just got real and you need to work out your options in seconds. Trust your gut. Activate a distress call, EPIRB etc.

Personally, I’d never use something like a BB Gun, because if it fails you – if they (pirates) decide to board, you’ve now shown them that you’re armed and they are going to match the lethal ‘perception’ and you’ve created a false sense of security you’re now obligated to match. So what do you do now? All said, avoid areas of high threat. Plan your route and voyage. Simple practices of: ample crew, defence skills, kinetic options and a watchful attitude, hopefully, will avoid any conflict. If required commit fully to defending yourself. Rarely do attackers go for you if they think they will die or be seriously hurt, remember, they’re looking for weakness – don’t give it to them.

On a final note; STUDY, stay up-to-date with your threat landscape, the methods and behaviours of local pirates and their capabilities and general intent. This will help you plan and prepare.

Thanks for sharing guys and opening up discussion on an important topic. Respect.”

We like thoughtful comments like the one above, and hope you will let us know what you think, and which situation above you think didn’t turn out so well…and which ones were OK, if any…Any of them could go either way in real life out here cruising…What would you do? How prepared are you? Or do you feel we should just trust everyone and take what comes?

Quiz Answer: Any of these could turn sour. Any of them could end very badly. And all could end with making good friends and having a nice story to tell on your blog or YouTube channel. All of them could restore Your faith in humanity…all of them could end in a injury, death, or mental trauma.

In our friends case…the one that ended badly was #4…the one with the police…they were not really police at all, and before they could do anything at all…gun or no gun, Plan A or Plan B..their legs were tied and they were chucked overboard in to a small boat, and transported 400 miles in an open boat to a small island where they were held for 6+ months as hostages, being threatened every day by Islamic militants. Only the women made it out intact. The man suffers to this day, and the marriage is no longer…a sad ending to a love story….

Paintball Guns:Alternative Self Defense Weapon on a Sailboat Against Un-Armed Thieves and Intruders: Tips and Tricks

Self Defense on Sailboats, against Pirates, Intruders, Thieves…

Is Cruising Safe? Panama Pirate Attack in Guna Yala/San Blas Islands

Vietnamese Pirates as seen in Blue Water Sailing, Cruising Helmsman, magazine

Scare the Hell out of those pirates, reef hooks, scuppers

Sailboat Security Systems: GOST… always watching!

Sailboat Security (GOST on a Valiant 40 )

Female Crew on a Sailboat: Sailing Safe

Sailboat Security Systems: GOST… always watching!

28 August 2019September 24, 2019rebecca.childress@yahoo.com2 Comments

Sailboat Security Systems…GOST (Global Ocean Security Technologies) will always be watching now! It’s not just for super yachts any more…small cruising boats have them too!

What’s in all these boxes? Global Ocean Security Technologies (GOST) -The Cadillac Of Sailboat Security Systems!

Well, today I returned from the USA to South Africa to my sailboat “Brick House”. I was on a frequent flyer ticket, so I flew the long, wrong, multiple connections route. I of course, had lots of boat bits, so I came with 4 oversized, overweight checked bags, and 2 big carry ons. Even one of the carry-ons was too big, and in the end, they insisted on me checking it. But would I? NO WAY!!! Fragile, valuable, and mission critical!

True to my typical style, I had come prepared with other bags inside of my bags JUST IN CASE. I had arrived 3 hours early, for just this occasion. I had overspilling suitcases and bits scattered around me when the second customer of the day rolled through the door as bleary eyes as me, and I had to shuffle over to make room. I eventually had two properly sized carry ons, albeit without wheels or long enough handles to put on my shoulders. I stayed while they pulled every single one of my checked suitcases aside to do a messy, thorough search. I helped them repack with my cardboard, and styrofoam protectors properly placed to protect more fragile items including a Raymarine autopilot linear drive purchased as a backup. This was for our existing Raymarine autopilot which is doing well after 14 years. We are using the old one as a spare since it’s still in great working order! With 8 boxes from one company and 1 heavy one from another, I crawled to my gate overladen but determined. Why my insistence to carry so much on the plane with me?

I was returning with a complete, state of the art security system from GOST (Global Ocean Security Technologies). I was flying through Johannesburg, South Africa; an airport famous for pilferage, and outright theft of bags. What I had in those 2 bags was valuable, delicate, and vulnerable. I couldn’t chance losing them. In those 2 bags were 2 strokes of luck that I may never have again.

What was in my carry on bags promised to keep us safe and secure for years to come, so I was taking my short 24 hour shift to keep them safe and secure. I was to be laden down for the entire trip, unable to shop or enjoy dining between flights, having all I could do to carry those bags through winding arrival halls, up and down stairs, and through more security checkpoints in time for the next departure. Have you ever carried 8 boxes of electronics through no less than 4 security checkpoints? I had to unpack each time, put them in separate bins along with my shoes, watch everything like a hawk, and then pack them all back in on the other side of security. I had a lot of explaining to do too. I then had to wobble to my next gate as fast as I could, miss meals and hydration, and then struggle on to crowded planes vying for the most secure location in the overhead bin, begging for mercy from strong men to help me lift them high but gently to a secure position that wouldn’t come loose or get crushed.

Because of all of this I could not run fast enough to make my very last connection to Durban. I missed it, despite the security scanners giving me a good break and exerting every last ounce of energy had. I was devastated, drained, and sooo concerned about my 4 other checked suitcases. Surely they would be pilfered, or dissapear all together.? And they were mission critical bits too! Most who know me would say I searched online til I found the cheapest flight to Durban. No…I took the next flight I could get, and I didn’t worry about the price of it. I wanted to get my baggage out of there just as quickly as possible!

We are in South Africa..where there are a lot of nice people…but also a few very bad ones, like anywhere. The locals had warned me profusely about airport problems, and problems right here in Richards Bay. We are heading to South America, where the same is true. This world is NOT getting safer. I didn’t even feel safe in the USA on this trip. I was amazed to see even in my small little rural hometown, where my family still lives, that they lock windows and doors, and have security systems armed even while at home. It’s no longer a world where doors are left unlocked, and people are universally trusted as the default. Yes…there are many many honest and generous people, the word over. This security system is for the unsavory few.

We had decided months ago, if not a year ago, that it was time to get serious about this worldwide reality, and set ourselves up right. We had messed around with a few security cameras and alarms on the boat, Patrick even made some cool home brewed alarms. I had read and emailed, watched countless YouTube videos, and contemplated how best to protect our floating home. (See https://youtu.be/pi0zpy7CH5o) But no security traps were perfect and admittedly, they left gaping holes in our security. There was only a small chance they would work when push came to shove. We don’t really want to just watch someone on a camera as they pilfer our boat and hope someone can identify them afterwards, like with our security cameras that are on the boat now…we wanted a real system that will scare away the unsavories before they get in, with nauseating alarms and blinding flashing lights, send alerts out by phone, email and SMS, and always be reliable, every time…with no false alarms…and even be able to monitor/report this worldwide to us and even local security teams/police, even when we are out of internet range!

We actually had narrowed it down to 4 systems that had some of the different components, different sensors and features that we liked. Only ONE had EVERY FEATURE AND COMPONENT AND SENSOR that we wanted, as well as many new ideas to consider…

GOST – (Global Ocean Security Technologies) was what I was carrying home like a delicate raw egg in my bags…very precious cargo…very critical. Everything we wanted in a security system. Our final solution on how to keep the boat safe from trespassers, pirates, thieves, intruders…

By the time Patrick and I had finished thoroughly examining GOST’s security systems, and has discussed the various options at length with the Installation and Sales team there, we were both absolutely sold that this was the system worth spending our precious stash of cash on. No other company even came close to what GOST offered in terms of having ALL the sensors and security devices we now wanted. Finally I compiled a list and asked for the final quote. The prices certainly reflected the quality that I was seeing, and I was heartbroken when I succumbed to the fact that I couldn’t have all the bells and whistles that this ultimate marine security system can provide. But the technology was so advanced, so tried and true, so respected, and the technician so competent at GOST…that it made it painful to drop a good chunk of change on a different companies system that we felt was only a distant second in quality and reliability. It would have been like buying the Hyundai instead of the Cadillac knowing full well the Hyundai was not going to make us happy despite the endless car payments we would make. We would always be wanting the Cadillac. Everyone I spoke with in the know, confirmed that GOST was the cream of the crop, the gold standard, that they were THE “go to company” for security systems! I couldn’t find one bad review online, from anyone. So we decided, rather than going for the lower pricetag second choice security system, we would go with GOST’s simplest base system and just not have every last sensor we wanted. Quality over quantity. Maybe we could afford to add more later. At least it would always work and always be there with us, and it wouldn’t collect in the junk drawer like countless other rinky dink dissapointing gadgets already have.

When GOST took my credit card for the most basic, they were probably pretty dissapointed, but remained very helpful and professional. They then confessed that they recognized our names from sailing magazines and YouTube videos, and announced that they would be giving us a bit more than just the basics, “just in case” we did a video or wrote an article about security in the future. Who us? Write or vlog about security? Yeah…I guess we have done a few! And maybe now this YouTube and blog stuff has paid off! I’m sure GOST wants to be sure that if we do a video, we can at least represent them with more than just the basics, though they were polite and didn’t make any demands. We did though, agree to make a video about our new system, so stay tuned.. it will be a brutally honest video if need be! They are confidant…we are too…it wouldn’t go on the boat if we weren’t already completely confidant that this is the best security system made!

GOST makes and uses the technology that the big ships use, and most of us little boats have never even considered before. This isn’t a system for a few hundred dollars, it’s up there with the price of a good Raymarine chartplotter. But if you have more than that to protect, and want hard core protection instead of a toy, GOST is who you should compare all other systems to. It’s worth going to their web site at GOST.com even if just for some ideas on what to look for in other systems. Even if you find you can not afford a comprehensive system like one from GOST, we highly encourage you to find a system that can work for you. The world is NOT getting safer…and we cruisers need to take a hint from those on land. (Beware: the technology you see on their site will spoil you for the possibilities that are NOT available at other security companies!!)

When I received the boxes, I couldn’t believe our luck! Not their amazing “Cloak”, and not the “Sound Barrier” which are really cool theft deterrents, but some pretty great stuff for a sailboat of modest means or more, like ours. I couldn’t wait to get this back to Africa, get it all installed, test it out..and make a video to show you too! You all know that we would make a video and/or an article about this regardless…it’s been a really big concern for us for a long time (see links below for all of our past security articles, blogs and videos)…but now we will finally, finally have what it takes to protect ourselves against thieves and intruders onboard SV Brick House for the long term ! Thank you GOST for letting us see what’s possible!

Call before you drop by BRICK HOUSE from now on, OK? We wouldn’t want to wake up the whole neighborhood as you board!

More details to come in blogs and videos and articles, so be sure to subscribe for updates! THERE IS SO MUCH TO TELL AND SHOW YOU! You can click on this image below if you can’t wait for our videos and article/blog!

——————————————————————————————————

Here are some videos and blogs we have done in the past. Yes…we really have been very concerned for years! Such a sigh of relief to finally have found something we feel will genuinely work!

Home brewed Security on Brick House(Video)

Is Cruising Still Safe? (Sail Magazine article by Rebecca and Patrick)

Rebecca’s Immediate after-thoughts about Recent Panama Attack on Cruisers (blog)

Flares as Defense (Video)

Considerations for Women Crewing Safely

Fisherman Turned Pirates Personal Experience

Fisherman Punk Pirate in SE Asia

Lively video/discussion on ideas for Non-Lethal Theft Deterrents (Video)

————————

Here are some non lethal, sometimes legal (depending on the country you are cruising) self defense products and ideas against NONARMED pirates, thieves and intruders: (Consider these carefully before purchasing and watch the above video and read all comments…it’s NOT a self defense weapon recommended or endorsed by us…they are just some ideas to round out the discussions we all have about what to do in this day and age if increased security risks aboard our sailboats)

Some of them are viable. Some are a little crazy…and deadly if the intruders are armed. Some could escalate a situation very quickly in to a deadly attack. But used in the right situation…against non-armed pirates , thieves and intruders…and it could be just the ticket!

It would be better however, in our opinion, to spend your money first, on a good security system that can warn you day or night or when you are away from your boat, that you are about to be robbed, and prevent it before it ever becomes an event. This is why we have made a very serious investment in a system from GOST (Global Ocean Security Technologies)

GOST ONLY protects boats…worldwide…big boats…little boats…all kinds of situations. GOST will now be watching our boat, day and night…but the GOST will never be seen!

Paintball Guns:Alternative Self Defense Weapon on a Sailboat Against Un-Armed Thieves and Intruders: Tips and Tricks

27 August 2019September 17, 2019rebecca.childress@yahoo.com3 Comments

Tips from one of our Viewers: Paintballs Guns as Self Defense on a sailboat…Loaded with Pepperballs…

We recently did a controversial YouTube Video entitled “Unarmed Pirates, Thieves and Intruders: Self Defense on Sailboats”

One idea from the video which has been particularly controversial has been the use of CO2 powered paintball guns, using pepperballs in a paintball gun, as a form of self defense, instead of actual paintballs, the legality and effectiveness of them in different kinds of piracy, theft and potential boarding of a sailboat, by both “innocent”, perhaps “opportunist”, fisherman, or criminals looking to steel your money or electronics.

We received a comment from one of our viewers, Travis Allen, which was particularly interesting in regards to the use of paintball guns on a sailboat, as Self Defense, that we think you should know about; About the actual accuracy of paintball guns, the types of gas in a paintball gun, the effects of UV on a paintball gun, the adjustments you can make to a paintball marker, and the care and maintenance of paintball guns and the paintballs or pepperballs, to be sure they are there when needed. Tips and tricks of a paintball gun, if you will.

Here is Travis’ email, reprinted, with his written permission, that you may find interesting: The video is located at the end, in case you haven’t already seen it.

Written by Travis Allen, September , 2019

I grew up as an only child in a remote area of the desert off of Highway 58. My nearest grade school friends lived 3 miles away. My father worked graveyard shift at Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex which was about an hour commute one way. This left mom and me home alone at night. It can be a dangerous world and some of my earliest childhood memories are of hiding in a dark hallway with my terrified mother because someone was trying to break into our house. Hitchhikers, illegal immigrants, and sometimes even truck drivers were the culprits trying to gain access to our home. This part of the desert is in San Bernardino County which had (or perhaps still has) the distinction of being the largest county in the United States. The problem with this is there has just never been enough sheriff deputies to effectively patrol that much area. So it’s imperative to learn to defend yourself because by the time the authorities arrive everything has already happened. After the first of these incidents my parents decided that we needed something more than the fireplace poker as home defense. As such, I grew up learning how to maintain and handle firearms. From the various articles I’ve read and videos I’ve watched (and the rest of the world’s general viewpoint on guns), I can see how having a firearm onboard your vessel for self-defense can cause ridiculous hassle and, I’m sure, would simply prevent you from even visiting certain parts of the world.

All that being said, I stumbled across your YouTube video titled “Un-Armed PIRATES & INTRUDERS – Self Defense against theft on Sailboats (Patrick Childress Sailing 42)” and found it very interesting. I actually have some experience that I can draw from and would like to pass that along to you. Whether or not you decided to purchase a paintball gun as a means of non-lethal defense is up to you and none of my business. Personally, I think it’s a great idea to have as one of many means to protect yourself and, honestly, one I had not until now considered. I’m going to continue this from the assumed viewpoint that you did indeed purchase one for use. You see, I used to play paintball on an official field (sometimes not on an official field) in my hometown with my friends. This was back in the early ‘90’s and technology has changed since I stopped playing the sport but some of the principles haven’t. When I began playing, the most common (and my first) paintball guns were pump action. Slowly semi-automatic paintball guns entered the market and were comparatively expensive. I drifted away from the sport shortly before the full-auto paintball guns were introduced. Following are some things (in no particular order) that one learns when playing paintball that are not necessarily common knowledge to the average person out there.

A common misconception is that paintballs and paintball guns behave like a normal firearms and ammunition. Paintballs are not as accurate as the ammunition used in a firearm and there are a few things that factor into this.

1. The barrel on a paintball gun is typically not rifled. It’s a smooth bore and imparts no spin to the projectile. Now, to be accurate, I had seen rifled barrels on the market back when I played but I don’t recall that I ever actually knew anyone that actually used one.

2. The paintball itself does not have ballistics like the ammunition used in a firearm because it’s not a solid piece of metal. The ballistics of a paintball are a little more like that of a water balloon. The regulation muzzle velocity limit when I played was 300 feet per second. (Most official paintball fields would lower that to about 285fps to have a bit more of a safety buffer.) When the paintball is fired at these speeds it meets the resistance of the air inside the barrel. This causes the paintball to compress to a degree and at this point the paintball is no longer a sphere. This will decrease accuracy. Also, the paintball is not entirely filled with paint. The paint has a tendency to settle at the bottom of the ball. This will cause the ball to be out of balance and will affect its flight. Especially if the paintballs have been stored for a very long time. And that’s another thing. They do kind of have a shelf life. Old paintballs can get brittle and are more prone to breaking when they’re not supposed to. Such as in the chamber when the paintball gun is fired. Paintballs also have a tendency to be sensitive to weather conditions. The paintballs can swell and/or “sweat” depending on heat and humidity. Swelling can cause accuracy issues and “sweating” can cause them to stick together which can cause issues feeding into the chamber. This sticking, however, can be minimized and/or eliminated by hoppers that have a battery powered vibrator or agitator that allows for a consistent gravity feed into the chamber.