Post by Admin on Dec 28, 2009 17:04:41 GMT -5
*taken from spec ops forums*
Okay people, this here should be common sense, but unfortunately it doesn't appear that way. We all know, or should know, that Barrel Blockng Devices (BBD's) are necessary in order to help ensure the safety of both us and everyone else around us. Unfortunately, they don't always work. It isn't because of faulty design (99% of the time), it is because of user error.
When a BBD is improperly attatched, it doesn't work the way it is supposed to. I have seen it WAY too many times. A player will have a BBD on their marker, but they pick it up and they inadvertently touch the trigger. Paintballs are discharged and the force moves the BBD from where it is supposed to go. The sad thing I have noticed is that other than being slightly annoyed, people don't seem to care all that much.
The best kind of BBD is the barrel sock, condom, bag, or whatever you choose to call it. This is a sleeve with a long elastic cord attatched to it. This is placed over the end of the barrel and the cord is placed around the feedneck, trigger frame, or some other secure spot. Ideally, it should be directly in line with the barrel, or pretty close to it. This will help to prevent the BBD from being dislocated as a result of a paintball being discharged. In order for it to work properly, it must be tightened. If it is loose, it isn't going to work properly and someone will get hurt. I'll admit that I have been guilty of improperly securing my BBD. I have shot it off on more than one occasion. Thankfully it was still on the field when everyone had their masks on. My reason for doing that was because it was a bit if a hassle to properly place it with my marker, the SP-8. When properly placed, the BBD does it's job pretty well.
Now days, the most common type of BBD I see is the barrel sock. I still see the barrel plug from time to time, but they are becoming more obsolete, which is a good thing. They aren't nearly as safe as a barrel sock, although they are much safer than not having a BBD at all. These are usually pieces of plastic that you insert into the end of your barrel. Some models come with o-rings to help keep them seated in your barrel. Unfortunately, some barrel plugs are either too small or too large for a particular barrel and they don't fit properly. This is where it can get bad. I have seen barrel plugs shot out of markers because they either didn't fit right or were placed incorrectly. Now you have a flying piece of plastic in addition to paintballs to worry about. In order to properly insert it, first make sure that it is long enough. For example, regular barrel plugs will not work on a Tippmann Flatline barrel. That is why they included a longer barrel plug specifically made for that barrel. Insert the plug and twist it in the barrel. Make sure it is snug. Very snug. Try not to use the ones without o-rings if at all possible. They are too easy to shoot out of your barrel it isn't funny.
This is the better of the plastic barrel plugs. Note the black o-rings around the shaft. This helps to secure the plug and prevent it from being dislodged when a paintball is inadvertently discharged.
This is the kind you want to avoid. Yeah, it is better than nothing, but why skimp on safety?
Something else I have seen too often is people using barrel swabs or squeegees as a BBD. That is not right. They were never intended as a BBD and they do not work well. It is unsafe for the player and others around them. DO NOT USE A BARREL SWAB AS A BBD! I have seen barrel swabs and squeegees shot out of markers in the staging area. That leaves a live marker with nothing to stop more paintballs from being shot into an area where people are not wearing masks. Do you really want to be reposonsible for causing a kid to lose an eye? Pay a few bucks and get a barrel condom. If you lose yours or just don't have one, I am sure somebody at the field would let you borrow one. I have given out several barrel condoms to players that didn't have them. I don't want to see people get hurt because of inferior equipment that doesn't work properly.
DO NOT USE THIS AS A BBD!
This post is intended for those of you that read it. Please take note of what was said. If you see something unsafe, don't just stand there and think "Wow, that guy is going to get somebody hurt like that." Get over there and do something about it. Everyone is a safety officer!
Okay people, this here should be common sense, but unfortunately it doesn't appear that way. We all know, or should know, that Barrel Blockng Devices (BBD's) are necessary in order to help ensure the safety of both us and everyone else around us. Unfortunately, they don't always work. It isn't because of faulty design (99% of the time), it is because of user error.
When a BBD is improperly attatched, it doesn't work the way it is supposed to. I have seen it WAY too many times. A player will have a BBD on their marker, but they pick it up and they inadvertently touch the trigger. Paintballs are discharged and the force moves the BBD from where it is supposed to go. The sad thing I have noticed is that other than being slightly annoyed, people don't seem to care all that much.
The best kind of BBD is the barrel sock, condom, bag, or whatever you choose to call it. This is a sleeve with a long elastic cord attatched to it. This is placed over the end of the barrel and the cord is placed around the feedneck, trigger frame, or some other secure spot. Ideally, it should be directly in line with the barrel, or pretty close to it. This will help to prevent the BBD from being dislocated as a result of a paintball being discharged. In order for it to work properly, it must be tightened. If it is loose, it isn't going to work properly and someone will get hurt. I'll admit that I have been guilty of improperly securing my BBD. I have shot it off on more than one occasion. Thankfully it was still on the field when everyone had their masks on. My reason for doing that was because it was a bit if a hassle to properly place it with my marker, the SP-8. When properly placed, the BBD does it's job pretty well.
Now days, the most common type of BBD I see is the barrel sock. I still see the barrel plug from time to time, but they are becoming more obsolete, which is a good thing. They aren't nearly as safe as a barrel sock, although they are much safer than not having a BBD at all. These are usually pieces of plastic that you insert into the end of your barrel. Some models come with o-rings to help keep them seated in your barrel. Unfortunately, some barrel plugs are either too small or too large for a particular barrel and they don't fit properly. This is where it can get bad. I have seen barrel plugs shot out of markers because they either didn't fit right or were placed incorrectly. Now you have a flying piece of plastic in addition to paintballs to worry about. In order to properly insert it, first make sure that it is long enough. For example, regular barrel plugs will not work on a Tippmann Flatline barrel. That is why they included a longer barrel plug specifically made for that barrel. Insert the plug and twist it in the barrel. Make sure it is snug. Very snug. Try not to use the ones without o-rings if at all possible. They are too easy to shoot out of your barrel it isn't funny.
This is the better of the plastic barrel plugs. Note the black o-rings around the shaft. This helps to secure the plug and prevent it from being dislodged when a paintball is inadvertently discharged.
This is the kind you want to avoid. Yeah, it is better than nothing, but why skimp on safety?
Something else I have seen too often is people using barrel swabs or squeegees as a BBD. That is not right. They were never intended as a BBD and they do not work well. It is unsafe for the player and others around them. DO NOT USE A BARREL SWAB AS A BBD! I have seen barrel swabs and squeegees shot out of markers in the staging area. That leaves a live marker with nothing to stop more paintballs from being shot into an area where people are not wearing masks. Do you really want to be reposonsible for causing a kid to lose an eye? Pay a few bucks and get a barrel condom. If you lose yours or just don't have one, I am sure somebody at the field would let you borrow one. I have given out several barrel condoms to players that didn't have them. I don't want to see people get hurt because of inferior equipment that doesn't work properly.
DO NOT USE THIS AS A BBD!
This post is intended for those of you that read it. Please take note of what was said. If you see something unsafe, don't just stand there and think "Wow, that guy is going to get somebody hurt like that." Get over there and do something about it. Everyone is a safety officer!