subject: What Is Stock Class Paintball? Rules, History & Gear Explained [print this page] Stock Class Paintball is the original version of what paint ball was once like when the game was started during the early Eighties.
There are four rules of the game. One, the marker must not be automatic: it must be reloaded by pumping or cocking each shot. Two, the marker must be fired using a single 12mm powerlet, a small metal casing containing 12 grams of carbon dioxide. Three, the marker must have a horizontal paintball loader and it must be rocked forward to load the gun again. Four, the marker is only allowed a load of 20 paint balls, no more.
Starting in the Eighties, the game of paint ball quickly evolved to allow the development and use of automatic markers and more paint balls to be fired. It became a question of quantity over quality of shots fired. Some players left the game entirely because of this. With stock class paint ball, the players returned to the old version of how the game was played . The whole notion behind this vintage version of the game is to put the players at a deliberate disadvantage so that their gaming skills such as marksmanship and concealment will be developed further than just leaning too much on the firepower of automatic markers.
There are clear benefits to using stock class markers. The guns are lighter in weight because they do not have an air tank and hopper. Players carry less paint than average players thereby reducing the amount of gear they must carry. Because the players are not weighed down so much by gear, they find it easier to move around, presenting a more difficult target to their opponents.
Since the markers are not electronic, they are easier to operate and break down less than their automatic counterparts, especially under actual field operations.
The weight advantages of the markers lead to greater improvement of player skills such as marksmanship. Since players have a limited supply of paint ammo, they maintain they are more cautious when firing, and as a result, develop better stalking skills.
Many people who had left the sport years ago have returned to it and they have reinvigorated the sport as they have rediscovered the passion for the game of their youth.
