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Paintball has been a fast growing extreme sport for many years but as in all things, things change. With the down turn in the economy and just the natural attrition that has long been associated with the game, paintball fields have been a little less packed in recent years.

Would you play more if paint was less expensive? How does 30% less sound to you? Richmond Italia of G.I Milsim in Montreal Quebec, Canada is betting that this will intrigue all who currently play paintball and those who may have considered it but sat on the sidelines because of the cost. This is the man who financed the ‘halo project’, created the 500 round paintball bags and was the first to place graphics on box cases of paint. He also helped create the Matrix (DM9) and oh yeah, created the world famous X Ball.

The benefits of a .50 caliber ball go farther than just being cheaper although for most that would be enough. Anything under $85.00 a case would be a welcome break and would in my opinion encourage more 24 hour scenario play. The smaller ball also takes less energy to propel so the air required would be less. While that might not result in less money being spent since most fields sell all day air it would allow for longer time out on the field of play but a 60% reduction in air use would be huge for some. Players would be able to carry more rounds out to play because the ball weighs about 2/3′s less than our standard .68. The ball travels just as far and is every bit as accurate but does have one disadvantage. In side by side tests with the .68, rain affected the .50 caliber more. Since most players I know head for the camp site with the slightest sprinkle, I don’t see this as a deal breaker.

Will this be the next big wave in the paintball world? Will you pay to have your current gun modified to accept the new rounds? What about rental equipment? All these questions don’t seem to be insurmountable for Richmond as he explains the benefits far out weigh the initial out lay for up grades.

So from the paintball players perspective, what about the cost to us to convert?. Well I pretty much answered my own question, if paintball’s are 30% cheaper to purchase, and air consumption is lessened, in the short term, the initial cost may be more, but the savings long term can be realized. For field owners who have to purchase or convert rental markers, Richmond suggests they do it gradually with again the savings realized in a years time. The savings seen in year one is more than enough to see the cost effectiveness of the switch over.

I’m old school as I’m sure many of you are but I remember being so excited some 20 years ago when the ‘quick change’ came about for 20 gram air. Instead of stopping play and unscrewing the cap to change cylinders it was just now a matter of seconds to flip out the old and insert the new. The game and equipment has been evolving ever since and I for one say. Bring it on.”

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