I have seen a lot of debates about improving the accuracy of paintball guns, but very little info from people who teach marksmanship.
Now, do not get me wrong, I understand the "accuracy by volume" issue and agree that the more balls you throw the more likely one is to hit. I am talking about improving shooting accuracy.
Matching paint to your barrel is very important and most players already know about this. Ditto with consistency of operating pressure.
Qualification: I teach Marines how to shoot, everything from pistols to machineguns.
A great deal of misses are caused by anticipating the shot. Paintball players usually get over this quickly, because the guns are not as loud as a real weapon and do not have recoil (plus lots of rounds downrange as practice). However, keep it in mind.
Next up is probably trigger control. Jerking the trigger most of all. This is something that affects paintball players. If you are whaling on the trigger, trying to hose paint, you are probably moving where the barrel is pointing. Also, if you have your finger positioned incorrectly, you can make the gun heel to one side or the other (usually to the right, with right handers). Learn to pull the trigger smoothly to the rear. And, yes, you can still do this and shoot pretty fast. I can usually do about 4 balls per second with my automag and not heel the gun around.
Grip. Do not hold the gun with a death grip, nor too loose. Firmly seat it in the "v" of your hand and wrap your fingers around the grip. Get used to doing it the same way, every time. That way it becomes second nature. You will grip the gun the same way, every time, without thinking.
You are going to hate me for this one, but I am going to say it: get a stock. A stock stabilizes the gun, even when running and firing. I can put rounds accurately on a bunker, while moving at full speed to flank it. There is a reason that carbines have stocks, the added accuracy is worth making the weapon bulkier.
Sight alignment and sight picture do not apply very well to paintball markers. However, if you like getting that "first shot" accuracy, remember that it is all about "everything I look at is the same." The relation of barrel, hopper, and rear sight must be consistent if you want to know where that ball is going by rote.
Maintain your equipment. Put it away in good working order and you will take it out in good working order (most of the time).
Here is the big one I will push: practice. Without people. Put up a small target and practice running, getting up, getting down, taking cover, coming out of cover, but all the while putting paint onto it.
There is plenty more, some applies, some does not, and I am tired of typing for now.
Now, do not get me wrong, I understand the "accuracy by volume" issue and agree that the more balls you throw the more likely one is to hit. I am talking about improving shooting accuracy.
Matching paint to your barrel is very important and most players already know about this. Ditto with consistency of operating pressure.
Qualification: I teach Marines how to shoot, everything from pistols to machineguns.
A great deal of misses are caused by anticipating the shot. Paintball players usually get over this quickly, because the guns are not as loud as a real weapon and do not have recoil (plus lots of rounds downrange as practice). However, keep it in mind.
Next up is probably trigger control. Jerking the trigger most of all. This is something that affects paintball players. If you are whaling on the trigger, trying to hose paint, you are probably moving where the barrel is pointing. Also, if you have your finger positioned incorrectly, you can make the gun heel to one side or the other (usually to the right, with right handers). Learn to pull the trigger smoothly to the rear. And, yes, you can still do this and shoot pretty fast. I can usually do about 4 balls per second with my automag and not heel the gun around.
Grip. Do not hold the gun with a death grip, nor too loose. Firmly seat it in the "v" of your hand and wrap your fingers around the grip. Get used to doing it the same way, every time. That way it becomes second nature. You will grip the gun the same way, every time, without thinking.
You are going to hate me for this one, but I am going to say it: get a stock. A stock stabilizes the gun, even when running and firing. I can put rounds accurately on a bunker, while moving at full speed to flank it. There is a reason that carbines have stocks, the added accuracy is worth making the weapon bulkier.
Sight alignment and sight picture do not apply very well to paintball markers. However, if you like getting that "first shot" accuracy, remember that it is all about "everything I look at is the same." The relation of barrel, hopper, and rear sight must be consistent if you want to know where that ball is going by rote.
Maintain your equipment. Put it away in good working order and you will take it out in good working order (most of the time).
Here is the big one I will push: practice. Without people. Put up a small target and practice running, getting up, getting down, taking cover, coming out of cover, but all the while putting paint onto it.
There is plenty more, some applies, some does not, and I am tired of typing for now.
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