Solid balls in the UK....

[ollytheosteo]

Just a quick question; As I understand it, paintball markers are not classed as firearms under UK law partly because they are designed specifically to fire a frangible projectile. With that in mind, are the new training balls made of harder compounds going to be a problem if they make it over here? I don't know if the UKPSF etc have considered this point, but I do know there are indoor sites using "rubber" balls in rental games- is this legal/insurable?
Airsofters are trying to establish a velocity limit at the moment and the main problem seems to be that the bb's are potentially damaging at far lower velocities than paintballs. It would be a shame for paintball to be caught up in the same debate.

When replying to this thread, please bear in mind that;

1) I don't need to read fifty posts saying that airsoft is ****. They say the same about us, and as someone who plays a bit of both I think that creating friction between the sports can hurt us both in the long run, especially as we are all freaks who like shooting each other in the eyes of the public.

2) This topic only applies in the UK, so anyone that makes these balls needn't accuse me of flaming their product. I think practice balls are a great idea, as long as they are not too harsh if shot by one idiot at another idiot, but our odd legal situation over here means that we have to think about these things.

3) "Eats, Shoots and Leaves" is a great book by Lynne Truss that covers basic punctuation, and dictionaries are available in all good bookshops.

Thanks, Ollyxxx

 

[Bolter]

I have heard that it really hurts when getting shot by these. That may make a difference to the law especially if used against one another.

 

[Dazdread]

Hi Ollie, how have you been, it is a long time since you did a series event.

The only thing I can add to your question is that surely it will effect the foot/lbs as the projectile is heavier hence the velocity will have to be lower to stay within the law of 330 ft/lbs (or whatever it is)

Catch you around

Darren
Ex, the Experiment

 

[MrDan]

I understand your concern Ollie, but i cant see how these rubber balls affect the legality of the paintball marker....

paintball markers have nearly always had the capability to shoot more powerfully than allowed, ie we have to chrono under a certain velocity (the legal limit may be 330fps but i know most guns can go higher, does this make them illegal?) and i know that a heavier projectile would give more momentum etc..

just think of the damage an idiot could do with a really heavy projectile like a ball bearing and a major velocity hike, the same is also true for the Air Soft brigade as you can just as easily increase the velocity of these too.

I think if you are on a site it would be pointless and unsafe to be using these rubber balls, but in the confines of your own home its really upto you, as long as you arent breaking the law.

 

[ices]

A paintball as soon as it hits its target, will immediately explode or in some circumstances, bounce.

A solid rubber ball will do nothing of the kind except bounce.

You may want to get shot by something that is solid at 300fps or so but not me.

-Am i on the correct path here?

 

[Mikey D]

i thought that these were just meant to be used for training, not for games. The one ive seen, you can get a net which can be used as a target for snap shooting practice etc.

does anyone actually know if these balls are heavier than a paintball? as im sure they arent solid rubber, more spongey sorta things

 

[stongle]

Maybe I'm being thick, but if your practicing snap shooting, surely you'd want a ball that exactly mimics the ballistic characteristics of a Paintball. Anything else is pointless?

With solid balls, surely you would'nt get an equivilent ballistic match, and secondly you would'nt be able to check yor accuracy either?

And since you couldn't possibly measure your accuracy with non-breaking balls, the only possible benefit I can see is that you are actually coming our of the bunker far enough on the "roll-out". You should be able to practice the movement without actually shooting anything, and then refine it with practice paint?

I must admit I can't think of any good reason to shoot a solid projectile from a marker, especially at 300 fps (the velocity you should be practicing your snap shooting), unless that person wanted to undertake some form of nefarious activity.

And with some training paints being very cheap, surely this would be a much safer option.

 

[Dazdread]

Are the paintball masks rated for face protection with these heavier projectiles?

 

[Skyhawk]

I'm pretty sure that they are solid plastic Info



Skyhawk

 

[stongle]

Originally posted by Skyhawk
I'm pretty sure that they are solid plastic Info
Skyhawk

Yep, but when I were lad and remembering back to my physics O level, I thought projectiles were affected by their surface material and internal mass distribution (hence the technology behind Golfballs, with hexagonal covvering giving a longer flight than standard dimple). So if these are V-balls are solid and covered with hooks, how will they follow the same ballistic path?

Or was I too busy picking my nose, I only got a C anyway.