Some friends and I are doing a pistol only league with
some modified rules from the CCI sc rules page. Though its
not true SC (much like the pump only games of today) it
still will promote the heart of SC which, IMHO, is low
volume play. I got to thinking about this and how more
attractive it might seem to the current rec-baller then
going stock/pump only. I recently got interested in Airsoft
and noted that new players generally get low-cost entry
level springers (pistols) when they start playing, or at least they
get one to "try it out". Now I relaize that an entry level airsoft
pistol is not even close to the price of a pball pistol (semi)
but I was wondering if the low-volume progression in the sport
will fall back to 12 gram operated pistols for todays rec players
vs. a stock pump low-volume tilt. With the all in one (paint & 12 gram)
clip designs that should hit the market within the year I think
rec pllayers opting for something different might try a semi-auto
pistol approach rather than a pump. What do you guys think?

z-zero

It's a good thought, but I don't think it'll happen until somebody comes out with a good, efficient, inexpensive semi pistol. Right now, there's plenty of them that fit two of those criteria, but not 3. While you might save money on paint, when you're going through a 12g for every 10rds, you really aren't saving much money unless you can track down a 4oz tank to use and have a pistol that's easy to convert to CA. The majority of the cheap ones are just that, cheap. If I had a buck for every pistol out there that didn't work out of box, I could buy a Squall. Which brings up the other issue. The best ones (Sydarms and Squalls) cost a freakin' arm and a leg. Not much savings there, and you are still only looking at 20 reliable shots off a 12g *if* you don't rapid-fire.

On the other hand, pistols can be fun. On Fridays before each MXS game, Armotech sponsors a 'top gun' tourney with their Zues pistols. Each player starts the game with 10 shots and a fresh 12g. 2 minutes on the clock. Last year, I won one and tied for second in another (ran out of time). The third, I accidentally rolled out of bounds sliding (doh!). Anyway, they were all a blast. The key I saw was just pretending it was a pump you didn't have to pump.

So, my take is that it'll happen off and on, but people who are really in it for the savings or skill factors will still go to pump or stock.

I would love to go against someone with pistols :D Got many of them, 3357, PGP2k, PT Extremes.

But you are right about the cost factor, they are not cheap, but some of them, like the PT's are downright unplayable in the real world of paintball. If it's not leaking somewhere, it's having low velocity.

PGP's? good but kind of heavy.

Squall's? I really was going to buy one. But at $650+??? I bought many other guns for that cost <_< But I will probably wind up buying one of them one of these days.

El cheapo plastic ones? hmm, I think throwing the paint using my weak hand will probably make the paint break more then firing them from these plastic 'toys' (unless barrel breaks count) :lol:

I was thinking more along the lines like the "top-gun" tourney, people just deciding to play that way to save money and keeping the gear on the same level.

You both have valid points, but I don't think the cost of 12 grams would drive people from their semi pistols. Case in point being that my friends wanted to use semi pistols and still compete (not going up against full marker setups) and save money opted for semi pistols not stock markers like I was pressing for, but one step at a time right? I'm not giving up yet. We left the league rules open to any 12 gram operated marker holding no more then 12 rds and not longer then 18". So when I toast them with my phantom from the back bunker they might see the light.

Armotech did a good job with the zeus series except you need to tweak the marker down to 300 fps, instead of throwing money at what seems to be a none-fixable pt extreme low velocity issue. When they can throw 10 rds of paint and a 12 gram in the same "clip" so you can change both at the same time, while retaining the c02 thats still in the 12 gram (reload paint later and re-use) pistols will sooooo rock for this style of play. and be that much better for backups in BIG games.

Money vs skill set is the same for these low volume styles, relative to the manual process of rocking and cocking becomeing second nature just like pulling a trigger. Now running with 2 semi pistols a blazing and doing it well is another skill to develope that can't be done with stock markers. I so want to buy a pair of G2's and bunker someone. Course reloading separate structures of paint and c02 on 2 semis will get nerve racking so until the "new" generation stuff comes out with integrated clips I'll be impatiently waiting.

One who likes to hose, but only 10 rds at a time,

z-zero

wow, its been a while since ive been in here, someone i met at the field (you anywhere around here chance (or chase, cant remember)) reminded me it was here, turns out i even had an account.

i always loved playing with just a pistol, but they are pricey, so i never got around to it, besides my pgp, anyway. im still not convinced a pt extreme cant be salvaged...... :rolleyes:

I personally have both a Zeus and a Zeus G2. The plain Zeus gets 22-25 shots per 12g, and the G2, 25-30. and this is pretty rapid fire. Of course, it wasn't this good until I got the velocity down to about 270fps on both. Had to clip coils off the springs.

I play with the G2 for primary and the other for back-up.

$129 for the G2, $99 for the plain flavor.

I also play with a PGP. I shoot handgun comp. for a hobby, and like to play paintball with them also.

You shoot a 1911 in comp? I'm looking into getting a .45 ACP or maybe the new .45 GAP but not in the Glock platform. I just hijacked my own thread, thats got to be a record for me......

z-zero