Smaller Balls are you ready?

[Lohman446]

Think about who SP and Dye really care about. The 12 year old kiddi who got Mommy and Daddy to buy him an DM9 because his DM8 was outdated. Used sales don't help either of their bottom lines. If we can make the DM9s obsolete because all he pros are now shooting DM10 - .50 then we can force the change quicker than you would think. Because now there is a "reason" to buy the new. Through in a cheap marker like the Ion, Invert, PM etc and we can get a good share of the middle of the road player too.

Once the tip starts I think you will find its far quicker than you think. Tried shooting an old Palmers gun lately? How annoying is it to have the balls roll out because .68 ten years ago = .689 + and now equals .682 -.

[fishmishin]

I would have to say my biggest concerns on the issue are:

1- The Gardners are involved !!
2- Will it phase out the .68?

Other than that, if it helps the industry, go for it. I hate to see anything put money in the Gardners pocket though, ANYTHING, and I would hate to see them bully companies into getting on board. I plan on shooting mags until there is no way possible to shoot them, and if this phases out the .68, I will end up with some nice wall hangers I guess. I do think however that any transition that takes place is going to be over the course of time, I would have to agree with you on that one Automagsam. I worked on installing some of the first HDTV antennas around 13 years ago, and they said at that time that it would be 10 years for the switch to be made, and they missed their mark on that. SO, time will tell. If nothing else I guess we should maybe look at building our own .68 machines to make our own paint at home. Then we could see some savings ourselves, lol. Now there is an idea for you, shoot as much as you want!! You can make more !!

[Lohman446]

Wait until the rule changes at major tournaments that require smaller paint (smaller paint = less force = safety (it won't be that hard of a sell)), Remember that Dye and SP have something that most in the past have not had - basic ownership of a major tournament series.

"Ramping will never take hold because no major tournament will allow it" That argument didn't work too well. It worked until SP and Dye had ramping on the market and made the non-ramping markers "obsolete". This will just make the obsolescence that much more forceful.

The good news: One would think a tapered barrel might be possible... maybe, maybe not.

[Automagsam]

Wait until the rule changes at major tournaments that require smaller paint (smaller paint = less force = safety (it won't be that hard of a sell)), Remember that Dye and SP have something that most in the past have not had - basic ownership of a major tournament series.

"Ramping will never take hold because no major tournament will allow it" That argument didn't work too well. It worked until SP and Dye had ramping on the market and made the non-ramping markers "obsolete". This will just make the obsolescence that much more forceful.

The good news: One would think a tapered barrel might be possible... maybe, maybe not.

I still disagree with the speed of the change thing, but as far as safety, I highly doubt that, infact if I recall Tom or someone was saying that there could be problems as it would fit through holes in masks that normal .68 wouldn't and I also believe that if my knowledge of physics serves me right that since they would be smaller they would most definetly hurt more, correct me if I am wrong. Also you now have a problem of getting them to break...good luck and as Tom was saying the fills that can be used are all toxic, so I don't know where you got the whole idea of them being safer, or perhaps that was just a casual generalization. Either way I think the point is mute because the change could not possibly happen fast inless there was some crazy incentive to the market, and it can't be just oh these are better and shoot way better, that wouldn't cut it, it would have to be monetary and more resourceful, something that will not happen. In fact I will make the prediction right now right here in 10 years the sport will not have .50 as it's main paintball. Call me out on that in ten years if I a wrong. People are too hopeful these days and less logical.

Also I was thinking and edited this in, the whole reference to the DM10 and schtuff only goes to prove my point, yes the ignorant people buy that stuff up, but there is a difference, because those ignorant people help fields and the industry in general as those people bring business to the fields as they can be used there, this new stuff can't thus if a change happened it would be slow, doesn't matter how fast dumb people buy it up the fields aren't going to throw all their resources to accommodate a minority, they'd rather seek profit and stay in business, it'd be a huge risk unlikely to have a huge payoff.

[Lohman446]

The rolleyes were there for a reason. An argument does not have to be accurate to sound good and be convincing. This is the company that touted spiraled porting after all :)

[snoopay700]

There's one single factor that is going to determine the outcome of 50 cal., and that is performance. On the day that you guys go to the chrono and you're standing next to some one who's zinging balls like a dart at a target you can't reach with your old fashioned setup, you're gonna gulp real hard.
After you come off the field frustrated because you couldn't get in range of your opponent before getting shot, you're going to think about either quitting or joining the new arms race.
I love the concept of 50 cal., it could breathe new life into the sport if it really works. It's just a real shame that the Gardener boys are involved.
Dan@Triggernomics

The only problem is that they wouldn't be miraculously further, they would mainly be more accurate. And the fact that most fields are field paint only, it would be hard to intimidate someone with paint that can't be used on the field, and if that person didn't know and thought it was the gun then found out it takes .50 cal balls, then i doubt they would buy it since they can't use field paint. I mean honestly if it was something new coming out that you had no clue if it was going to take off or not and you owned a field, would you buy that paint for the few people that have those guns? Not likely.

As for increased safety, if anything it's less safe. Imagine a paintball traveling at 300 fps hitting a lens, or flesh, and it has the same amount of energy (if not more since there is less drag) and the impact having a smaller area. If anything they would be less safe.

Also my boss, Mark, pointed out that in a lot of countries they're outlawing projectiles of any kind over .50 cal, which is probably a large reason why they're making this as well.

[insixdays777]

Dont forget ALL paintball field insurance policies would have to be rewritten. Broader coverage due to a broader and new set of risk (.50cal) = more expensive insurance for the fields which = more expensive field fees for us.

[om3n]

So would it even be possible to modify or change an existing mag bolt/body to accommodate these .50 cal rounds? If it was possible, then I would consider switching over...

[snoopay700]

So would it even be possible to modify or change an existing mag bolt/body to accommodate these .50 cal rounds? If it was possible, then I would consider switching over...

I covered this on the previous page. No, at least not easily, you'd need a new body, new rail, the valve would be moved way back. You'd need a new powertube essentially, if you did want to retrofit it.

[Tym]

I don't see how by just making a ball smaller it improves anything. If they do more than just make it smaller, why can't they do that to the regular .68?

It sounds like a sham or a cash grab to me..

[Reiner]

Also my boss, Mark, pointed out that in a lot of countries they're outlawing projectiles of any kind over .50 cal, which is probably a large reason why they're making this as well.

Damn! Does that mean the end of baseball and golf? That's going to suck. Wait until all those politicians that take off early every Friday to play golf find out. They are going to be p'ed.

[snoopay700]

I don't see how by just making a ball smaller it improves anything. If they do more than just make it smaller, why can't they do that to the regular .68?

It sounds like a sham or a cash grab to me..

Yeah that's what i thought, but then i thought about how the rules state that they need to be no heavier than 3.5 grams or something.

And yeah, those guys that love golf will be pretty mad when they find out they have to play mini golf.

[Lohman446]

I don't see how by just making a ball smaller it improves anything. If they do more than just make it smaller, why can't they do that to the regular .68?

It sounds like a sham or a cash grab to me..

Vortex shedding is the reason behind the theory they will work better - assuming the .50 is going to maintain the same weight less surface will cause better performance.

[Shirow]

Have I mentioned how much I hate this idea? That being said, I'm not sure I can see this taking off in public/rec fields anytime soon at all, for two main reasons:

#1 They're not going to want to have to replace every single rental gun
#2 They're not going to want to stop people playing at their field because they haven't bought a new gun

So I'm not too worried. I will be very upset if I have to stop shooting my mag tho :|

[Beemer]

Color16.5 mm (0.650 in.) and 18 mm (0.709 in.).

^^Hmmm 65cal at 3.5G at 300FPS. I will buy this stuff.

So do the math. 50cal at 3.5G at 300FPS or 50cal at 3.0G at 300FPS or WHAT, is SAFE??

What we know. 3.5G max at 68cal at 300FPS.

What we dont know. What the weight of this NEW 50cal ball is ASSUMING its velocity is 300FPS Max.

Screw it, just sign me up for the First Strike rounds or better yet lets just play with FN303's.