Tippmann TPN Tango One paintball marker

I haven't posted a whole lot on paintball on this blog, but yes, I do still have a high interest in paintball and I'd like this blog to reflect this a little bit. One thing I have noticed while looking around for a paintball marker to start off with is that Tippmann now have a new marker advertised on their site. I'm not really sure how new it is, but it is new to me. The marker I spotted is the TPN Tango One, and looks like it's aimed at people who are starting out or have a smaller budget.

At a bit over half the price of an X7 marker from Tippmann, you obviously get just the basics. There's no E-grip trigger, and no cyclone feed system, but it does come with 4 picatinny rails and a foregrip, and can be upgraded to E-grip, as well as being available as the "bravo one" (M16 kit) and "sierra one". In fact, from the research I've done, it looks like most parts from the older Tippmann 98 custom, which it seems Tippmann based this marker on. I'm not too sure what the availability is like in Australia, as I do know the Tippmann A-5 is sold as slightly different model here, the CFM.

Only having gravity feed,  mechanical trigger and less available parts than an A-5 does mean that eventually any new paintball player will need to upgrade if they want to play more than just casual weekend fun, but for half the price and Tippmann quality, the TPN paintball series looks like a pretty good offer.

Gearing Up for Paintball: Part 2

Today I sat my firearm safety course, as the first step towards obtaining my firearms licence to be able to own my own paintball marker. The course was held at Belmont rifle range on the south side of brisbane and was run by the Queensland Millatary Rifle Club. I have to say, it is a course I highly recommend for anyone wishing to sit their firearm safety course.

The bulk of the course was theory, and covered laws involving safe storage, purchase, transport and licencing in the first part, of which most was common sense. What i didn't know, and found pretty surprising, is the definition of "firearm" in terms of the law is basically anything that can cause injury to someone, and also means (believe it or not) a deodorant can when used to cause harm, becomes classified as a firearm in the eyes of the law. By extension, if you purposely shot someone with a nerf blaster to deliberately cause harm to someone, then it's possible it could be classed as a firearm if anything legal happened about it.

Next we were shown the ins and outs of all kinds of guns, including air rifles, and were also shown how to make a firearm safe, and identify whether a gun is safe or loaded. We were also shown different firing positions and the advantages and disadvantages of them. sounds easy? It is. Even if you have absolutely zero knowledge of guns at all, you'll be competent by the end. All of the instructors were absolutely great. Very engaging and willing to help and answer any question, no matter how simple the question might be.

a couple of tests, and we were off to the range for a practical exam. We were shown again up at the range how to operate our guns and how to make them safe. Obviously, they weren't going to hand over a high powered rifles to us freshly clued in noobs to have a blast with, so we were allowed to use a Savage mark II rifle. It's a .22 caliber, bolt action with a 5 round box magazine, no scope, just iron sights.

Savage mark II .22 caliber that was used in the prac exam

Gearing Up for Paintball: Part 1

If you live in Australia (particularly Queensland), then this ongoing article is for you. This article is about 2 of my friends and I getting what we need to start playing paintball practice days and comps, without the need for equipment hire or paying insane prices for ammo, but mainly to own our own markers customized to the way want.

So, where do I start? from the very beginning i guess. I first played paintball a few years ago, and loved it. at first i was a bit worried about how much it might hurt, but once I started playing it was great! I got hit a fair few times, and the only one that really stung was one to the inner thigh, but to be honest I have had far worse happen with my other sport, BMX. It did hurt a lot, but it was nothing compared to slipping a pedal and having it tear up your shin. I have massive scarring on my shins from BMX, but i still ride anyway, so a bruise that goes away and stings a bit its nothing. So I was hooked.

A Tippmann X7, most likely my choice of marker.